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Laboratory for Anthropometry and Biomarkers

Laboratory Director: Katherine Wander (profile)

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The Laboratory for Anthropometry and Biomarkers supports health research conducted outside of a clinical setting, particularly in resource-limited settings. We specialize in gathering biological information through techniques that are minimally-invasive and robust to challenging field conditions, including unreliable or absent electricity, limited or absent clean water, long travel times and poor road conditions, and high humidity and dust.

To facilitate population-based research in challenging and remote field settings, we rely on "rough-tech", cost-effective tools—such as minimally-invasive specimen collection techniques, analysis of alternative biological specimen types, and point-of-care microdevices—to collect data in remote and challenging settings.

Technology

Anthropometry: We use robust, transportable, low-cost instruments to measure physical characteristics such as height, weight, and skinfold thickness in a non-invasive manner in remote settings.

Enzyme Immunoassays: We use both traditional and multiplex assay systems to evaluate a variety of biomarkers—measurable characteristics, including biological products circulating in blood, secreted in saliva, or excreted in urine, that provide information about an entire physiological system—including indicators of inflammation, nutrition, and stress.

Specimen Types: We support use of alternative specimen types—urine or saliva instead of serum—and specimen collection and storage techniques—dried blood spots instead of serum—to facilitate population-based research in remote settings.

Point-of-Care Measurement: We use "point of care" (POC) diagnostic tools—such as hemoglobinometers to identify anemia and hematofluorometers to identify iron deficiency—in remote settings to minimize needs for cold storage and transportation of specimens and to provide useful information to our local healthcare provider partners.

Current Projects

• Child Health and Development in Kilimanjaro

• The Immune System of Milk

• Health Disparities and Market Integration
• Adoption and Family Size in Vanuatu

Partners

Publications/Posters

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• Describing immune responses in human milk via in vitro stimulation
• Diagnosed type 2 diabetes and elevated blood glucose are more strongly associated with muscle mass than BMI in Vanuatu (South Pacific)
• Human milk cytokine responses to gastrointestinal bacteria measured via in vitro stimulation
• Predictors of human milk immune responses to gastrointestinal bacteria
• Protocol development and quantification of immune response in bacterially stimulated human milk (research poster)
• Psychological stress, but not physiological stress, is associated with inflammation among residents of a peri-urban community in Vanuatu 

Students

The Laboratory for Anthropometry and Biomarkers supports graduate student training and independent research. Interested current and prospective students should contact Laboratory Director, Katherine Wander