Zinc Nutrition and Brain Development in Southern Ethiopia

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案的目标是：[1]在科罗拉多大学健康科学中心和俄克拉荷马州立大学的合作支持下，开发必要的资源，包括埃塞俄比亚南部Debub大学或与之相关的人力资源，以启动和维持一项持久的研究计划，将营养[微量营养素]与母婴脑发育和功能联系起来；[2]完成试验性研究，为开发一项重要的R01赠款提案奠定必要的基石，该提案旨在检验以下假设：在怀孕的第二和第三个三个月期间提供最佳的生物可利用量的锌，并通过头两年向后代提供最佳数量的锌，将与改善母亲的认知和行为有关；增加新生儿的头围[根据胎龄进行调整]，并在生命的头两年及以后改善注意力/习惯/智力和运动发育。这些目标将通过以下方式实现：在阿瓦萨及其相关机构全面发展一个研究小组；在阿瓦萨举行初步规划、联合体建设、需求评估会议；支持在德布大学与FWA共同建立一个内部审查委员会；在阿瓦萨、科罗拉多州和俄克拉何马州进行培训和交叉培训[营养和脑功能研究]；在阿瓦萨试行脑功能研究工具；试行营养研究，包括：膳食、生物标志物和人体测量学评估；评估这一特定人群的锌营养状况、锌吸收和锌需求；举行第二次规划会议，以审查R01提案的进展和计划细节；最后，根据这项由R21支持的预备/试点研究获得的经验和知识，制定R01提案。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objectives of this proposal are: [1] to develop the necessary resources, including human resources at or/and associated with Debub University, Southern Ethiopia, supported by collaborations with and between the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma State University, to initiate and sustain a durable research program linking nutrition [micronutrients] and maternal-child brain development and function; [2] to complete pilot studies that will provide an essential cornerstone for the development of a major R01 grant proposal that will be designed to test the following hypotheses: Provision of an optimal quantity of bioavailable zinc during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and to offspring through the first 2 years will be associated with improved maternal cognitive and behavioral; greater head circumference of neonate [adjusted for gestational age] and improved attention/habituation/intellectual and motor development throughout the first 2 years of life and beyond. These objectives will be achieved by: fully developing a research team in Awassa and associated institutions; an initial planning, consortium-building, needs assessment meeting in Awassa; supporting the development of an IRB with FWA at Debub University; training and cross-training [nutrition and brain function research] in Awassa, Colorado and Oklahoma; pilot testing of tools for studies of brain function in Awassa; pilot nutrition studies including: dietary, biomarker and anthropometrics assessment; assessment of zinc nutritional status, zinc absorption and zinc requirements for this particular population; a second planning meeting to review progress and plan details of R01 proposal; and, finally, the development of the R01 proposal based on the experience and knowledge acquired with this preparatory/pilot R21-supported research.