Nutrients Webinar | The Impact of Human Milk’s Structure–Function on Early Human Health and Lifespan
Nutrients Webinar | The Impact of Human Milk’s Structure–Function on Early Human Health and Lifespan
Part of the Nutrients Webinar Series series
23 February 2026
Human milk structurefunction, Early-life nutrition, Endocrine and metabolic health, Gut microbiota, Neurodevelopment
Welcome from the Chair
5th Nutrients Webinar
The Impact of Human Milk’s Structure–Function on Early Human Health and Lifespan
Welcome to this webinar associated with the Special Issue “The Impact of Human Milk’s Structure–Function on Early Human Health and Lifespan.” It is a pleasure to bring together researchers and clinicians to explore how the biological complexity of human milk influences key developmental pathways from early life onward.
Human milk is not merely a source of nutrition but a dynamic and bioactive system capable of shaping endocrine regulation, intestinal microbiota, immune maturation, and neurodevelopment. Growing evidence suggests that these early-life interactions play a crucial role in developmental programming, with potential long-term implications for health across the lifespan.
In this webinar, our invited speakers will address complementary perspectives on this topic, focusing on the role of human milk in endocrine health, its impact on gut microbial ecosystems, and its contribution to brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Together, these insights aim to advance a more integrated understanding of how early nutrition can influence lifelong health trajectories.
Thank you for your attention and for joining this webinar.
Date: 23 February 2026
Time: 10:00 am EST | 4:00 pm CET
Webinar ID: 870 2809 2130
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Event Chairs
Department of Medicine and Surgery, LUM University, Casamassima, 70010 Bari, Italy.,
Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ecclesiastical General Hospital F. Miulli, Acquaviva delle Fonti, 70021 Bari, Italy.
Dr. Ilaria Farella is a clinical researcher and author with expertise in pediatric health, early-life nutrition, and developmental outcomes. Her research spans topics including the role of nutrition and metabolic factors in childhood health, with recent contributions to the understanding of the burden of childhood obesity on bone health. She has co-authored peer-reviewed studies published in international journals, reflecting her involvement in research on pediatric nutrition, obesity prevention, and related metabolic outcomes. Her scientific work combines clinical insights with evidence-based approaches to early human health across developmental stages, contributing to interdisciplinary knowledge in neonatology and child health sciences.
Invited Speakers
Dr. Rossella Vitale is a pediatrician with research contributions in pediatric and metabolic health, with a focus on how early-life nutritional and endocrine factors influence growth and development. She has co-authored peer-reviewed articles examining the multifaceted impact of childhood obesity and metabolic dysregulation on bone health and related endocrine pathways, highlighting the interplay between adiposity, inflammation and skeletal outcomes in pediatric populations. Her work contributes to a growing body of evidence linking early nutritional exposures and metabolic conditions with broader aspects of child health and disease prevention.
Clinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePre-J), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
Prof. Mohamad Khalil is a clinical researcher and expert in gastroenterology and microbiome science, with a focus on the role of the human gut microbiota in health and disease. He is affiliated with the Clinica Medica “A. Murri”, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePre-J), Medical School, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy, where he pursues research on host–microbiome interactions and their implications for systemic physiology and metabolic homeostasis. Khalil has co-authored peer-reviewed reviews and research articles exploring the complex ecosystem of the gut microbiome, its influence on immune, endocrine, and neural pathways, and emerging strategies for microbiome-targeted interventions.
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Program
|
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in EST |
Time in CET |
|
Dr. Ilaria Farella Chair Introduction |
10:00 – 10:05 am |
4:00 – 4:05 pm |
|
Dr. Rossella Vitale The Role of Human Milk in the Prevention of Endocrinological Disorders |
10:05 – 10:25 am |
4:05 – 4:25 pm |
|
Prof. Mohamad Khalil The Impact of Human Milk on the Intestinal Microbiota |
10:25 – 10:45 am |
4:25 – 4:45 pm |
|
Dr. Ilaria Farella Breastfeeding and Neurodevelopment |
10:45 – 11:05 am |
4:45 – 5:05 pm |
|
Q&A |
11:05 – 11:20 am |
5:05 – 5:20 pm |
|
Webinar closing Dr. Ilaria Farella |
11:20 - 11:25 am |
5:20 – 5:25 pm |
Relevant Special Issue
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
