In this conversation, Dr. Nina Patrick interviews Dr. Sioned Fôn Jones, founder of BoobyBiome, to discuss the breast milk microbiome: what we know, what we don’t, and how understanding it can improve infant health, enhance breast milk storage, and lead to healthier formulas.
Dr. Sioned Fôn Jones is an award-winning scientist with a Master of Science in Chemistry and a PhD in Biophysics. She was listed in the 2024 Forbes 30 under 30 list, and was a recipient of the 2023 Potts Medal for her outstanding contribution to science. She has co-founded BoobyBiome which is a biotech start-up based at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health leveraging extensive knowledge of the breast milk microbiome to create solutions that will revolutionise infant health.
In the conversation, Sioned shares her scientific background, the importance of breast milk for infant health, and the challenges faced in women’s health research. Our discussion covers the diversity of the breast milk microbiome, the impact of maternal factors, and the innovative solutions being developed to enhance infant nutrition.
BoobyBiome is developing innovations in the preservation of breast milk components, as well as the future potential of probiotics in infant health. The conversation concludes with insights on fundraising challenges and her vision for the future of women’s and infant health.
Listen to the episode on 🔴YouTube, 🟢 Spotify, 🟣 Apple Podcasts, 🟠 Substack Podcasts.
Key Takeaways:
Breast milk is not just food; it’s a dynamic substance.
The breast milk microbiome plays a crucial role in infant health.
Diversity in the breast milk microbiome varies significantly among mothers.
Super donors have a high abundance of beneficial probiotic species.
BoobyBiome has developed innovative storage solutions to preserve breast milk’s benefits.
Formula milk lacks microbiome components found in breast milk.
Recommended Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Booby Biome
00:23 The Science Behind Breast Milk Microbiome
03:00 Diversity of the Breast Milk Microbiome
06:01 Breast Milk Donation and Sampling
08:42 Impact of Maternal Factors on Microbiome
11:27 Feedback Loop Between Baby and Breast Milk
14:47 Oxygen and Its Effects on Breast Milk Microbiome
17:53 Innovations in Breast Milk Storage
19:23 Comparing Breast Milk and Formula
22:02 Future of Probiotics in Infant Health
25:13 Challenges in Women’s Health and Fundraising
30:17 Long-term Goals for Booby Biome
36:13 Advice for Aspiring Scientists
41:20 Collaborations and Future Directions
Where to find Dr. Sioned Fôn Jones:
Where to find Nina Patrick, PhD:
Edited by Wright Time Publishing
