DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH & DISEASE

The International Society for “Developmental Origins of Health & Disease” was set up to promote research into developmental origins of disease in the early stages of life.

Why should we change the future?

Obesity, heart disease and diabetes are among the leading causes of problems in health and early death. Obesity is the greatest epidemic ever experienced by humankind and it is estimated that globally there will soon be 21 million deaths due to cardiovascular disease each year. The sudden increase of these diseases is the largest threat posed towards human health due to the effects of its high costs in both personal and economic terms.

The risks of developing many illnesses including cancer are not due to chance and are not the result of genetic changes or simply a poor life style. Over the past ten years scientists have been able to demonstrate that the reason behind which may people suffer from poor health and early death has relation with the way in which we develop during the early phases of our life. With this we refer to the stages prior to birth as well as the first moths of life. The studies which have shown that children who are born with low birth weight and size tend to suffer illnesses during their adult years have suggested that malnutrition during gestation as well as during infancy is a key factor.

A new strategy for preventing these common illnesses focalized on the nutrition of young women and their children as web as on men and women’s lifestyles during the middle years is urgently needed.

AIMS OF THE DOHaD SOCIETY

1. To promote co-ordination of a research strategy in different countries, for the scientific exploration of early human development in relation to chronic disease in later life
2. To promote the development and application of public health strategies to prevent chronic disease
3. To advocate for the need for funds from governmental and non-governmental sources for research in the developmental origins of health and disease
4. To champion training opportunities for scientists and clinicians
5. To foster regular meetings to discuss research findings and potential intervention
6. To promote the interchange of ideas, staff and expertise between laboratories across the world

DOHaD BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Professor Mark Hanson	Chairman
Professor Caroline Fall	Secretary
Professor Keith Godfrey	Treasurer
Professor Peter Gluckman	Past-President

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:

EUROPE	Dr. Jane Cleal Dr. Susan Ozanne
DEVELOPING WORLD	Professor Terrence Forrester Professor Francisco Mardones Professor Ramesh Potdar Dr. Chittaranjan Yajnik
NORTH AMERICA	Professor Stephen Matthews Dr. Robert Waterland
PACIFIC RIM	Dr. Deborah Sloboda Professor John Newnham

SPECIALTY REPRESENTATIVES:

Representative BASIC SCIENCE	Professor Isabella Caroline McMillen Professor Michael Symonds Dr. Adam Watkins
Representative BONE AND JOINT	Professor Cyrus Cooper
Representative EPIDEMIOLOGY	Dr. Matthew W. Gillman
Representative EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT	Dr. Christopher Kuzawa
Representative NUTRITION	Professor Vicki Clifton
Representative OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY	Dr Michael Ross
Representative ORGANISER OF LAST MEETING	Professor Gerard Visser
Representative PUBLIC HEALTH	Professor Johan Eriksson
Representative PUBLIC HEALTH	Professor Barrie Magetts
WHO/INTERNATIONAL LIAISON	Professor Alan Jackson Professor David Barker Sir Patrick Bateson Professor John Challis

THE INTERNATIONAL DOHaD SOCIETY:
This Society is very new. The first six Congresses held by this Society were carried out on a yearly basis starting with the first one in Bombay, India in 2003. Soon followed Brighton, United Kingdom in 2004, Toronto, Canada in 2005, (time at which for the first time a Chilean representative, Dr. Francisco Mardones is elected onto the Board of Directors), Utrecht, Holland, in 2006 (time at which Chile was put forth as the seat for the 2009 meeting) and Perth, Australia , in 2007. The Santiago meeting in 2009 is after two years of the previous Congress in Perth. Next world congresses will be celebrated every two years.

THE INTERNATIONAL DOHaD SOCIETY IN CHILE:

2001

A report of a study conducted by Dr. Catherine Law and Dr. David Barker was published that year and included a Chilean researcher, Dr. Pablo Lavin. Part of the study included Chilean children. Int J Epidemiol. 2001; 30(1):52-7.

2003

Pre-Congress Meeting for FIGO referred to DOHaD (at that time called FOAD). More then 350 professionals, especially clinicians assisted and this was the first sign of the presence of this Society in Chile

Speakers : Peter Gluckman, Mark Hanson, Lucilla Poston, Jorge Pablo Figueroa, Anibal llanos.

Local Organizers: Paola Casanello y Luis Sobrevia.

2004

Professor Caroline Fall, present Secretary of the DOHaD Society gave two Conferences at the Chilean Nutrition Society Congress in Viña del Mar city, November.

More than 500 professionals assisted.

2006

David Barker delivered two conferences at the Chilean Nutrition Society Congress in Iquique city, November. More than 500 professionals assisted.

Activities of David Barker in Santiago city, November:

- Pontifical Catholic University of Chile President (Rector), Dr. Pedro Rosso, awarded David Barker the Joaquín Larraín Gandarillas Medal from this University.

- Dr. Barker delivered a Conference at the Chilean Institute's Academies of Science and Medicine during his visit in Chile.

2007

Visit of Peter Gluckman and Mark Hanson to Santiago in December. Activities:

•  Two conferences delivered.

•  Meeting with the Minister of Health.

Other news:

- Sponsorship for the 2009 World DOHaD Congress in Chile was obtained from: Rectors of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and of the University of Concepcion. In the case of the University of Chile, sponsorship came from the Directors of INTA (institute of Nutrition and Food Technology) and of the School of Public Health of this University.

2008

Mark Hanson, President of DOHaD comes to Chile and participates on March in the 2008 Health and Nutrition Summit entitled: “Prevention of nutrition/diet physical activity related chronic diseases”, organized by the Ministry of Health and the Senate Committee of Health. Valparaiso city.

The President of Chile, Dr. Michele Bachelet, accepted to be the Honorary President of the 2009 DOHaD International Congress in Santiago, Chile. Date of confirmation letter: July, 2008.

2008

Dr. Mark Hanson, President of DOHaD, delivers two conferences on the early origins of obesity at the Chilean Nutrition Society Congress. November, Puerto Varas city.

Dr. Mark Hanson also gives two other conferences in Santiago city: in Calvo Mackenna Hospital (Paediatrics Society) and in the Catholic University (Cardiology Society).

Dr. Peter Gluckman, Past-President of DOHaD, will visit Chile in December. He will deliver two conferences: in the Catholic University and in Clínica Las Condes.