Federally funded research conducted by researchers at the Institute for Global Nutrition at UC Davis benefits U.S. parents each time they visit their pediatrician’s office to see how their child is growing

More than 20 years ago, researchers at the Institute for Global Nutrition at UC Davis conducted pioneering research showing that the growth patterns of breastfed infants differ from those of formula-fed infants. This groundbreaking work led the World Health Organization (WHO) to initiate the Multicenter Growth Reference Study, a six-country effort to create new growth standards for children under five years of age. 

Davis, California served as the U.S. site, with Dr. Kathryn Dewey on the Steering Committee and as the U.S. principal investigator. Data collection for the U.S. site was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The resulting WHO Child Growth Standards, released in 2006, have since been adopted by more than 140 countries, improving how child growth is monitored and assessed worldwide. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopted the WHO growth charts for children under two years of age, meaning every parent in the U.S. benefits from research done by UC Davis Nutrition each time they visit their pediatrician to see how their child is growing.

Federal research funding is crucial for transforming research breakthroughs into real-world solutions. More funding means faster treatments, cleaner air and water, and safer communities. But when funding freezes, progress stalls and costs soar. 

UC Davis research improves the lives of Americans every day. Learn more about UC Davis research by visiting: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives

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