Pesch Lab

The Pesch Laboratory’s mission is to strive to improve children’s and families’ health through research advocacy and education. Research focuses on several areas including risk factors for childhood obesity, maternal experiences of parenting and awareness around congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). Through partnerships with community stakeholders, the Pesch Laboratory is involved in advocacy efforts to better children’s health, including initiatives to increase awareness around CMV at the state level. Laboratory staff engage in educational initiatives around nutrition, parenting and disease prevention in the community and for healthcare professionals. Current research includes the Growing Toddlers study, an effort to better understand how mothers feed their toddler aged children through. The Physician Perceptions of Infant Growth Study seeks to understand the various practices and perceptions physicians have around infant growth. The Mom Child Development Study investigates mothers’ experiences and challenges raising former preterm infants into toddlerhood.