Human Milk Matters
"As a scientist and the director of MOMI CORE, I see health crises emerging and worsening every year. I believe we need to look somewhere new for answers - human milk. The idea that human milk is just food for babies couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s full of molecules and cells that protect infants and mothers from diseases and improve their overall health and development. What exactly is in human milk? How does it work? Can we leverage it to improve the health of all people at every stage of life? We created MOMI CORE - the first-ever interdisciplinary research center committed to human milk and lactation - to answer these questions and many more. I invite you to join us as we look to human milk for new answers."
— Lars Bode, Ph.D., Director
Connecting the Sciences
Our mission is to create an engine of discovery focused on understanding human milk by fostering collaborative investigation across research, education and clinical practice to improve the health and development of infants, mothers, and society as a whole.
Innovation through Intersection
Siloed research delays medical breakthroughs. For instance, evidence shows breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk, yet cancer experts rarely collaborate with human milk researchers to explore this connection. It’s time to tear down walls and unite disciplines to inspire bold new ideas.
Disrupting Traditional Research Funding
Research is a marathon, not a sprint. However, research funding is time-limited, forcing researchers to spend precious time pursuing dollars instead of answers. MOMI CORE utilizes a sustainable financing system that allows investigators to focus on what matters—actual research.
Making a Global Impact
Our ultimate goal at MOMI CORE is to improve health outcomes for people around the world. By rising about dogma, following the evidence, and sharing discoveries with healthcare professionals and decision-makers, we make a positive and lasting impact on global health for years to come.
A Setting for Success
Our mission is an ambitious one. Fortunately, we have an advantage: We are part of the brilliant and collaborative UC San Diego community. With leading minds in biomedical research and education, along with cutting-edge technology and facilities, MOMI CORE is uniquely positioned to connect diverse thinkers and become the global epicenter of discovery in human milk and lactation.