Jo-Anna Baxter, Nutritional Sciences

Supervisor:
Deborah O'Connor, PhD RD
Chair, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto

PhD Thesis:
Characterizing Social Determinants of Nutrition among Late Adolescent Girls in Rural Pakistan

PhD Overview:
Working with partners at the Aga Khan University, Dr. Baxter’s dissertation described the nutritional status of late adolescent girls enrolled in the Matiari emPowerment and Preconception Supplementation (MaPPS) Trial, and used cross-sectional anthropometric, dietary, and biomarker data to investigate how social determinants contributed to inequalities in nutritional status. In this setting, adolescent girls are considered to be at greater risk for poor nutrition between their increased physiologic demands to support maturation, general poor dietary intake, and potential vulnerability due to cultural and social norms. Variables related to poverty led to the greatest disparities in nutritional status, suggesting that addressing the underlying factors that lead to malnutrition will be critical. Findings supported the benefits of direct and indirect interventions to improve nutritional status and reduce poverty.

Current Research:
Human milk is considered optimal for infant growth and development in the first six months of life, and exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization. While human milk composition has traditionally been considered relatively consistent regardless of maternal nutrition, emerging evidence suggests the nutrient makeup may vary. Using human milk samples, infant growth data, and measures of nutritional status from the MaPPS Trial, Dr. Baxter’s postdoctoral research will focus on (1) determining the effect of consuming a daily multiple micronutrient supplement on human micronutrient concentration; (2) identifying pathways between maternal nutritional status, human milk composition, and infant growth using structural equation modelling; and (3) establish the extent to which maternal body composition is related to human milk macronutrient concentration. Her postdoctoral work will also include understanding the lactation supports provided to vulnerable women in the Canadian context.

Scholarships/Awards:

• CIHR Fellowship (2022-2025)
• Centre for Global Child Health Catalyst Grant (2020-2021; Primary Applicant)
• CIHR Team Grant: Canadian Microbiome Initiative 2 (2019-2024; Co-Investigator)
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2017-2020)
• Hospital for Sick Children Research Training Centre Scholarship (2016)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2015, 2016)

Publications:
To date, Dr. Baxter has published 16 peer-reviewed publications and 2 textbook chapters.

Career Aspirations:
Dr. Baxter’s long-term career goal is to become an independent investigator at an academic institution. She greatly enjoys conducting research with diverse collaborators from around the world in a cross-cultural, multi-stakeholder environment, as well as working with students. Her research portfolio focuses on understanding and implementing dietary and micronutrient-related interventions to improve the nutrition status of reproductive age women before, during, and after pregnancy, thus optimizing both their own health and that of any offspring.