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Principal investigators

Prof Ed Mitchell Professor of Child Health Research Paediatrics School of Medicine Room: 12.047 Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86431 Email: e.mitchell@auckland.ac.nz	Dr John Thompson Senior Research Fellow Paediatrics School of Medicine Room: 599-12043 Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86433 Email: j.thompson@auckland.ac.nz
Assoc Prof Cameron Grant Associate Director Growing Up In New Zealand School of Population Health Room: 599-1202 Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86192 Email: cc.grant@auckland.ac.nz	Prof Wayne Cutfield Professor in Paediatric Endocrinology Paediatrics School of Medicine

Research

Studies on paediatric nutrition are generally based at the Starship Hospital, involving the Paediatrics Division.

Specific projects

Please contact Dr Cameron Grant if interested in the following projects.

Email:c.grant@auckland.ac.nz

The iron, vitamin A and vitamin D status of Auckland infants.

This is a study of the prevalence of iron and vitamin A and vitamin D deficiency in Māori, Pacific, European and other children. In addition to describing the prevalence, we will determine if vitamin D status varies with ethnicity and will determine associated factors predictive of iron, vitamin A and vitamin D status. This project is funded by the HRC. We are enrolling 600 infants with a sample stratified by ethnicity to ensure that there are equal proportions of Māori, Pacific and European/other children. The children enrolled are aged 6 to 23 months. This is a collaborative project involving Paediatrics, Māori and Pacific Health, and Community Health.

Development of pre-testing of methodologies for assessing the nutritional status of children (1 to 14 years).

This is a pilot project being completed by The University of Auckland, Massey University and Auckland University of Technology which is developing the processes and methodologies necessary for the completion of a National Children's Nutrition Survey. I am one of the principal investigators on this project. The pilot part of this project will be completed this year and we will then submit an application to complete the main study.

Selected references

Vickers M.H., Breier B.H., Cutfield W.S., Hofman P.L., Bluckman P.D. (2000). Fetal origins of hyperphagia, obesity and hypertension and postnatal amplification by hypercaloric nutrition. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology & Metabolism 279(1):E83-7.

Armishaw J., Grant C.C. (1999). Use of complementary treatment by those hospitalised with acute illness. Archives of Disease in Childhood 81:133-7.

Wilson C., Grant C.C., Wall C.R. (1999) Iron deficiency anaemia in adverse dietary habits in hospitalised children. New Zealand Medical Journal 112(1089):203-6.