Professor of Pediatrics
Education
B.S., Agriculture, Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de Purpan, Toulouse, France
M.S., Nutrition, Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de Purpan, Toulouse, France
Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, US
Biography
Dr. Andres completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, a USDA-Agricultural Research Service funded National Human Nutrition Research Center. Through her leadership and the extraordinary teamwork at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Dr. Andres has driven novel lines of investigation enhancing understanding of the effects of maternal excessive weight on offspring metabolism and the impact of early infant feeding on children’s growth and development by leveraging an existing longitudinal cohort (Beginnings, a comprehensive study of the impact of early infant feeding on infant outcomes), designing and implementing a new longitudinal cohort (Glowing, a unique study of the role of maternal body composition during the first weeks of gestation on offspring metabolism), and a randomized controlled trial (Expecting, evaluating potential exercise intervention strategies during pregnancy in sedentary women with excessive weight). These outstanding collaborative scientific teams provide unique and significant contributions to frame future guidance for infant feeding and child health. Dr. Andres is currently funded by the USDA-ARS and NIH (NIDDK, NIEHS, NIDA, and NICHD). When not working, she enjoys time outside with her family and friends, hiking, reading, yoga, meditation, and traveling.
Research Interests
Dr. Andres’ research program is dedicated to examining the effects of prenatal and postnatal nutrition on offspring growth, body composition, metabolism, and development. Maternal health, body composition and nutrition are all important factors that can influence fetal and neonatal development during critical periods. Infant nutrition is another determinant of growth and body composition which may have short-and long-term consequences to a child’s health that we are currently investigating. A specific focus is in on components of human milk and characteristics of infant formulas that support optimal growth, health, and development. To tackle these complex questions, we partner with research groups at Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and other institutions using multi-disciplinary approaches.