Oxford University Receives £9.12 Million Donation for Breastfeeding Research

First published: 01/08/2024

Oxford University has received a generous donation of £9.12 million ($11.7 million) from the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation to enhance research into the endocrinology of human lactation. This significant contribution aims to support the study of hormones in human milk production, a relatively under-researched area with substantial implications for maternal and child health.

The donation will endow a chair in the endocrinology of human lactation at the Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation, established in 2018 with an initial donation of £2.9 million ($3.7 million) from the same foundation. Additionally, the funding will establish a research and collaboration fund, which will be dedicated to fostering innovative projects and generating pilot data to explore new ideas within the field.

Marco Steiner, board president of the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, expressed the foundation's commitment to improving maternal and child health through this endowment. "We are delighted to be supporting mothers and children’s health with this endowment. It enables the world-renowned University of Oxford to target a neglected research topic—the physiology of breastfeeding," Steiner stated. He highlighted the unique position of the research team, located at the John Radcliffe Hospital, to directly support breastfeeding mothers and make meaningful contributions to the well-being of families.

This endowment underscores the ongoing commitment to advancing scientific understanding and practical support for breastfeeding, offering potential benefits to families globally.