Dr. Isabelle Herter-Aeberli - TH

What made you decide to apply for a grant at the Leading House Asia?
With this project, we aimed to directly quantify, the daily iron requirements of infants aged 12–24 months using iron stable isotope dilution measurements. This study was only possible in infants born to mothers who had participated in an iron absorption study using stable iron isotopes during pregnancy. This was the case in a cohort of 12 babies recently born to participants of a previous project. Thus, in working with those infants we had a unique opportunity to better understand iron requirements in infants.

How did you secure a research partner?
We had previously worked with our collaborator, Dr. Sueppong Gowachirapant and knew he would be interested in a closer exchange and also the possibility to learn more about the stable iron isotope methods we were going to use. He had already worked with the mothers of the babies we were going to include during pregnancy and therefore was the ideal partner.

How would you describe your experience of the programme?
The research partnership grant ASEAN allowed us to seize this unique opportunity to follow infants born to mother who participated in an iron absorption study using stable iron isotopes during pregnancy for up to two years after birth. Those infants were labeled with stable iron isotopes and the dilution of those isotopes over time in their blood allows us to estimate iron uptake from the diet and to better understand iron needs during this early period.

Thanks to the grant Dr. Gowachirapant was able to visit ETH Zurich for two weeks and to learn more about the stable isotope method. It also gave us the opportunity to discuss further collaborative projects, some of which were already completed successfully.

What role did the Leading House Asia play in the programme?
The Leading House Asia faciliated the funding application but was not involved otherwise.

What were the impacts you made through the project/partners/individual?
Without this grant we would not have been able to complete this project. Even though data analysis is still ongoing, we expect to be able to provide important data on dietary iron requirements in infants between birth and two years of age. This is a critical period in infant development where iron deficiency can have detrimental effects. Thus a better understanding of iron requirements during this period will be extremely valuable for future recommendations for infant feeding.

Testimonial: what were your personal experiences/thoughts on the bilateral cooperation experience?
We have had a great experience with this grant not only in terms of the scientific work we were able to achieve thanks to the seed money funding, but also in terms of the exchange and future collaborations facilitated by this exchange.