Investing in mothers and children: Q & A with Dr. David Barker

This month, as part of the launch of the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development, the University of Toronto is bringing together world-renowned experts to explore hot topics in early childhood development.

Dr. David Barker—a physician and  epidemiologist at the University of Southampton— is one of the experts taking part in U of T’s Connaught Global Challenge International Symposium “Investing in Mothers and Children.” Twenty years ago, Barker showed that people with low birth weight are at greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke and diabetes—a breakthrough discovery the British Medical Journal dubbed the “Barker Hypothesis.”

On Thursday September 27, Barker will give a free public lecture that explains how our early development in the womb establishes our vulnerability to negative things we encounter as well as our ability to cope with these external influences. Writer Nicole Bodnar spoke with Barker about his research inspirations, the real-world impact of studying human development, and how the Fraser Mustard Institute will revolutionize research in this area.

What was the initial inspiration for your research that eventually led to the ‘Barker Hypothesis’ – that chronic adult diseases are "programmed" by malnutrition in the womb?
It is a paradox that while coronary heart disease rises as nations become more affluent, the disease has its highest rates among poorer people in poorer parts of a western country. This cannot be explained by the lifestyles of the poor and suggests that they are more vulnerable to the western lifestyle. Vulnerability is acquired during development.

How is research on human development affecting clinical practice?
The prevention of chronic disease depends on improving development, especially development in the womb. A baby is nourished by its mother’s lifetime nutrition. Improving the nutrition of girls and young women therefore has to become the focus of public health activity. The rates of chronic disease are rising rapidly in North America. It is projected that by the year 2050, one in three Canadians will have diabetes. Genetic research will not solve this; neither will a continued focus on adult lifestyles.

We hear a lot about what mothers can do to increase optimal development for their child, but what about fathers? Do they play a role?
Little is known about this. The growth of a baby in the womb is largely controlled by the mother. It has to be, for otherwise many mothers and babies would die during child birth.

How is U of T’s Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development positioned to advance research in this area?
The institute is well-positioned, having a combination of talented and experienced researchers from a wide range of disciplines. To improve early human development will require this range of expertise. Chronic diseases are unnecessary. They are not mandated by the human genome. We could readily prevent them, had we the will to do so.

The “Investing in Mothers and Children” symposium runs from September 27 to 29 at the MaRS Discovery District.