RESEARCHER PROFILE
Dr Laura Klein, National Milk Research Leader
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood,
New South Wales
Australia
Dr Laura Klein is National Milk Research Leader at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is funded by Australian governments to provide life-giving blood, plasma, and transplantation and biological products.
Dr Klein works with clinicians and researchers across Australia to understand how donated breast milk can be used to improve outcomes for vulnerable babies. She’s passionate about generating evidence to improve the products and services that milk banks provide to donors and the families who receive donated breast milk.
Dr Klein has a PhD from Harvard University and is an Adjunct Research Associate in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood national milk service has already closed the gap in helping very preterm babies (born less than 32 weeks’ gestation) access donated breast milk. Currently they supply milk to more than 1,000 babies every year across New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania.
Dr Klein is currently conducting Australian-first research that could potentially help thousands of babies in the future. Together with the University of Adelaide and South Australian Institute of Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is conducting a randomised controlled trial at five sites in three states. exploring how donated breast milk may benefit babies born later than 32 weeks gestation when the mother’s own breast milk is unavailable.
Babies born 4 to 6 weeks before their due date (moderate to late preterm) often have trouble feeding and most need extra nutrition while breastfeeding is established.
Infant formula is regularly used as additional nutrition for pre-term babies, but it can contribute to complications, including feeding intolerance, increased need for IV fluids, interrupted breastfeeding, effects on weight gain and delayed hospital discharge.
Human milk is easier to digest than formula and protects babies against other serious diseases and infections. It has all the nutrients babies need for their growth and development.
In the trial, more than 2000 pre-term babies will participate in a donor breast milk trial funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies (CTCS) Grants.
Mother’s own milk is a complex fluid shaped by interactions between a mum and her infant, while donated breast milk is something different. Donated breastmilk is a precious gift that can improve outcomes for premature infants, but it is not the same as mother’s own milk.
“Donated breast milk is the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for infant feeding when a mother’s own breast milk is unavailable, because of its association with improved breastfeeding rates and protective properties,” says Dr Laura Klein.
“Our research will aim to explore other benefits for infants and their families, including reducing allergies during the first year of life. There’s little research to inform the use of donor milk in babies born after 32 weeks.”
Outside of work, she enjoys going for bike rides, doing yoga, and exploring different places around Australia. Having moved to Australia from the United States in 2019, she looks forward to seeing parts of Australia, she hasn’t yet seen.
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Bench Side Story
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Health impacts of donor milk for pre-term babies
Professor Alice Rumbold is Theme Leader of SAHMRI Women and Kids, managing a multidisciplinary research team focussed on improving health outcomes for women, babies and families. She also holds an affiliate position as a Research Leader within the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
An epidemiologist and health services researcher, she is internationally renowned for her leadership of large-scale clinical trials, epidemiological studies and systematic review activities to improve perinatal and reproductive health care. She is passionate about improving health outcomes for women and babies, particularly those experiencing vulnerability. Her current research interests include preterm birth, breastfeeding, human milk banking and infertility
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