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Lucilla Poston

Lucilla Poston

Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1100-2821
  • Phone020 7188 3644
  • 29035
    Citations

Personal profile

Research interests

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease


The nutritional ‘environment’ in utero is now recognised to influence the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in the offspring. One focus of Lucilla Poston's research is to define the consequences of obesity in pregnant women and of sub-optimal maternal nutrition on the developing fetus. Her laboratory was amongst the first to develop animal models demonstrating that the offspring of obese rodents develop a predisposition to obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance at a young age. These also suggested that endocrine influences on the developing hypothalamus may permanently affect function, including central pathways influencing satiety and blood pressure control. In the clinic, Lucilla’s  team developed a complex lifestyle intervention for pregnant women living with obesity, the UPBEAT study. Studies by her team in UPBEAT women who developed Gestational Diabetes (GDM) have provided insight into metabolic dysfunction of this increasingly common disorder. UPBEAT continues with investigations of cardiometabolic outcomes in the UPBEAT children. Recently Lucilla’s team have developed a longitudinal maternal child cohort (eLIXIR, Born in South London) using linkage of routine electronic health records, one of the MRC's Longitudinal Populations Cohorts. This linkage is facilitating the study of the early origins of disease at a population level.

 

Research interests (short)

Pregnancy, obesity, gestational diabetes, nutrition, pre-eclampsia, Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, data linkage, maternal-child cohort

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, University of London

Award Date: 1 Jan 1982

Bachelor of Science, University of London

Award Date: 1 Jan 1975

External positions

Member Africa Research Leadership Panel, MRC Medical Research Council

2024 → …

Member Research Committee, Diabetes UK

2022 → …

Member Applied Global Health Research Board, MRC Medical Research Council

2020 → 2023

Member, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

2018 → …

Member Career Development Award Panel, Wellcome Trust

2018 → 2024

President, International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

2017 → …

Member Population Systems and Medicine Board (PSMB), MRC Medical Research Council

2013 → 2017

Keywords

  • QP Physiology
  • Pre-eclampsia, obesity in pregnancy
  • RG Gynecology and obstetrics
  • Developmental origins of disease

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 1 - No Poverty
    SDG 1 No Poverty
  2. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  3. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  4. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  5. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  6. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  7. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  8. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  9. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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View all 504 research outputs
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  • 11 Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
  • 5 Types of Business and Community - Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
  • 3 Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
  • 2 Editorial activity
View all 21 activities
View all 7 prizes