At the social level, our team is deeply involved in various activities aimed at the general population. Since 2010, the group has participated annually in “EXPOCIENCIA”, an Open Day/Workshops event that includes about one hundred activities primarily prepared by researchers from the University of Valencia and CSIC for the general public, especially families with children.
We also participate in various activities related to the dissemination of results to society, such as the “Quart Science Week” (sponsored by CSIC and other entities), “European Researchers’ Night,” or “MedNight.” The group actively participates in the “IATA-CSIC Seminar/Conference Series,” as well as other outreach activities in the press, radio, and social media.
Below are some examples:
It is worth noting that MC Collado participated in a project titled “LAS CIENTÍFICAS CUENTAN,” funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) – Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, co-financed by the CSIC General Foundation and supported by the European Research Council (ERC). This project aims to bring basic or fundamental science closer to society through the stories of female scientists who have obtained an ERC project. Interestingly, MC Collado was selected as one of the 11 members of the “Spanish Science Selection” in 2017, as part of an initiative by CSIC and the QUO magazine.
Our leadership in the MAMI cohort has brought us close to families, and within the projects, we organized the “1st Meeting of Families Participating in the MAMI Project” in 2017. This event was held at the City of Arts and Sciences, Santiago Grisolia Auditorium, Valencia, where we presented the first results of the project to over 200 participating families. Our research on breast milk allowed us to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic to the needs and questions regarding the influence of SARS-CoV-2 in the maternal-infant environment, with particular relevance to breastfeeding.
SARS-CoV-2:
In the early months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, concerns and uncertainties about its potential vertical transmission led to controversial recommendations regarding breastfeeding. In the midst of a pandemic, and thanks to collaboration with the Hospital Clínico of Valencia (Dr. Cecilia Martínez-Costa), we launched the “MilkCorona” initiative, leading a national multicenter study where we were able to answer questions about maternal infection and the role of breastfeeding. Our unprecedented observations showed that maternal vaccination against COVID during breastfeeding is safe and that antibodies to protect the newborn were present in most breast milk samples. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was not detected in any milk sample. These analyses clearly supported the importance of systematically recommending breastfeeding in all cases where the mother had few or no symptoms.
These results have had significant social importance, as media outlets reflected with multiple interviews requested in newspapers and television channels, as well as in statements released by the Ministry of Health.
