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Examining Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy

A pregnant woman eats a salad.

By utilizing an individual participant data meta-analyses, researchers were able to shed new light on prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation.

Published September 24, 2025

By Nick Fetty

The cover of the July issue of Advances in Nutrition.

A multi-year research project by The New York Academy of Sciences’ Nutrition Science Program has resulted in promising findings for positive birth outcomes based on when supplementation is started during pregnancy and how consistently it’s taken.

Findings from the project were published in the July issue of Advances in Nutrition. The international team of researchers assessed the impact of timing of initiation and adherence on the effectiveness of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS). The researchers conducted a two-stage individual participant data meta-analysis that included 15 randomized trials with 61,204 pregnant women.

The findings showed that higher adherence to MMS was consistently linked to better birth outcomes, highlighting the importance of early initiation and program strategies that support sustained use. For example, women who had adherence to MMS of 90% or better had babies that were on average 56 grams heavier than those who took iron and folic acid alone, and the risk of delivering babies with low birthweight (i.e. weighing less than 2.5 kilograms) was reduced by 12% in this high adherence group. On the other hand, those who took less than 60% of the supplements had no difference in birth weight.

“The Academy has been working on prenatal MMS since 2017,” said Filomena Gomes, PhD, a former program manager for the Academy’s Nutrition Science Program. “The expertise and network created since then enabled the coordination of this complex project with 37 co-authors.”

The Strength of an Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

Part of what made this research different from similar, past projects is that it conducted an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis in a new way. The advantage of the IPD is that it provides the researchers with data from each participant in the trial.

“Other methods, such as the Cochrane reviews, use the averages from the trial so you lose a lot of detail and information,” said Megan Bourassa, PhD, the former Associate Director for Nutrition Science at the Academy. “For example, there was a wide range in the number of pills consumed in some trials, and we are able to parse that information, rather than relying on single data points from each trial.”

While IPD meta-analyses have been used in this field of research in the past, the approach on this project was different.

“Other individual participant data meta-analyses have been conducted previously to assess the benefits of prenatal MMS on various outcomes, but this is the first individual participant data meta-analysis to assess and examine the timing of initiation and adherence of MMS,” said Dr. Gomes.

A Team Effort

The researchers gave special acknowledgement to the efforts of all 15 of the trial groups. These trial groups either provided raw data or analyzed their previously collected data based on this project’s protocol. Support was also provided by JBJ Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on the “most cost-effective ways to create impact for the world’s poorest.”

The Academy partners with other organizations to explore solutions across the nutrition spectrum. By convening diverse groups, synthesizing evidence, building consensus, designing roadmaps, and preparing scientific manuscripts for publication, the efforts build solutions that use nutrition science to support and advance public health.

“This work is important for implementing supplementation programs for pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries because we can now show how much starting early and taking it consistently matters for the health of the mother and baby,” Dr. Bourassa said.

Also read: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Address Inadequate Calcium Intake

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Address Inadequate Calcium Intake

A glass of milk.

By combining scientific depth, data translation, and policy navigation, researchers hope to improve calcium intake across the globe.

Published September 24, 2025

By Nick Fetty

A screenshot from the Global Calcium Map Dashboard.

A research effort involving The New York Academy of Sciences’ Nutrition Science Program aims to provide governments and policy advocates with accurate information that can support policy change for better health outcomes.

The team of researchers led systematic reviews, integrated diverse datasets, and applied nutritional epidemiology to map global patterns of calcium intake. They then built an interactive platform that turns complex data into a living decision tool.

“With our cross-disciplinary approach, we connected the lab, the dataset, and the policy table, ensuring calcium is no longer an invisible nutrient in the global health conversation,” said Ziaul Rana, PhD, a former Program Manager for the Academy’s Nutrition Science Program.

As part of this effort, the Academy launched the Global Calcium Map Dashboard, an interactive, living atlas of calcium health and nutrition. More than a data platform, it illustrates patterns of dietary calcium intake, preeclampsia and preterm birth rates, and interventions. Calcium intake during pregnancy is especially important because it is associated with lower rates of preeclampsia, which is a significant contributor to preterm birth.

The platform’s country typologies make the invisible visible, categorizing nations by urgency, and highlighting where interventions can have the greatest impact. For policymakers and researchers, the map functions as both a compass and a call to action, guiding efforts to close critical gaps in maternal and child health.

The Issue of Calcium Accessibility

The accessibility of calcium rich foods, such as dairy products, vary greatly depending on location and traditional diets. While dairy products are generally accessible in places like the United States, this is not always the case abroad. 

“In other parts of the world, dairy products can be very expensive or are just not commonly consumed and often the result is a much lower intake of calcium,” said Megan Bourassa, PhD, the former Associate Director for Nutrition Science at the Academy. “There are other sources of calcium, for example fish bones, generally consumed from small fish, or from certain vegetables, but in plant-based sources we have to worry about the bioavailability of the calcium. Often our bodies can’t efficiently use the calcium that is there.”

By spotlighting the role of calcium in health, this initiative seeks to reset priorities and drive action through supplementation, fortification, or tailored food-based solutions.

“Its innovation lies not just in what we built, but in how it can be used: a shared evidence base for countries, advocates, and global agencies to push for more equitable health outcomes,” said Dr. Rana. “Our goal is to help catalyze a shift so that adequate calcium intake becomes a core pillar of maternal and child health programs worldwide.”

An Advocacy Tool for Policy Change

The researchers hope the online dashboard can be an advocacy tool for policy change.

“When we put together the information from the maps, we can see areas that might benefit more from an intervention. Groups can use this information to approach policy makers to encourage change. It can also be helpful to see how other countries perform in a particular region,” said Dr. Bourassa.

For example, if a neighboring country has a well implemented calcium fortification program and lower preeclampsia rates, this might be a good rationale to implement calcium fortification in a country, assuming diets and other risk factors are similar.

The research team acknowledged the Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for supporting the systematic literature reviews. The team also utilized publicly available data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, known as the Global Burden of Disease Study, and from the Global Fortification Data Exchange. These data sources provide information for a wide array of contexts, and the researchers extracted information relevant for calcium to include in the dashboard. Support was also provided by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

“We hope this work can enable policymakers, donors, and public health organizations to strategically allocate resources where calcium interventions could achieve maximum health impact and save the most lives,” said Dr. Bourassa.

Also read: Examining Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy

The New Wave of AI in Healthcare 2026

The New York Academy of Sciences is proud to present The New Wave of AI in Healthcare 2026.

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are transforming healthcare at an unprecedented pace—reshaping how we diagnose, treat, and deliver care. From advanced machine learning applications to real-world evidence and patient-facing digital tools, innovation is accelerating rapidly, bringing both extraordinary promise and complex challenges for clinicians, researchers, and regulators.

To spotlight these breakthroughs, the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and The New York Academy of Sciences will host a two-day, in-person symposium in New York City The New Wave of AI in Healthcare. 

This premier event will convene leading scientists, clinicians, industry innovators, and policy experts at the intersection of computer science and medicine to share cutting-edge research, explore pressing ethical and regulatory considerations, and build collaborations that shape the future of healthcare. The symposium will not only showcase the latest scientific advances but also foster interdisciplinary dialogue and networking to ensure that AI-driven healthcare innovations are equitable, ethical, and impactful.

Sponsors

Presented By

The New York Academy of Sciences logo

Molecular Pathways and Cellular Players in the Resolution of Organ Fibrosis

A shot taken under a microscope.

The New York Academy of Sciences proudly presents “Molecular Pathways and Cellular Players in the Resolution of Organ Fibrosis.”

Organ fibrosis is a critical challenge across multiple diseases, where unchecked scarring disrupts tissue architecture and function. Yet, recent advances in multiomics, mechanobiology, and therapeutic innovation are shedding light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that may allow fibrosis to be reversed, or even prevented. While significant progress has been made in dissecting the mechanisms of fibrotic progression in tissues, key challenges remain in understanding the resolution and reversal of organ fibrosis.

This one-day symposium will bring together leading experts from academia, industry, and clinical research to explore the biology of fibrosis, emerging multiomic insights, and the development of targeted therapies and biomarkers. Conference topics will encompass the biology of fibrosis, multi-omics signatures, target identification, therapeutics, and imaging biomarkers, among other areas. Researchers at all career stages are invited to join us in accelerating discovery, building meaningful collaborations, and engaging in conversations that will shape the future of fibrosis science.

Sponsors

Presented By

The Biochemical Pharmacology
Discussion Group

Lead Supporters

Cancer Metabolism and Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment

Join leading experts at the forefront of cancer metabolism research for a one-day event in New York City. The New York Academy of Sciences invites you to “Cancer Metabolism and Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment,” where top basic, translational, and clinical scientists will explore the intersection between cell signaling and metabolism.

Modern research in cancer metabolism and signaling has uncovered complex metabolite-signaling networks in cancer. These networks support tumor progression by enabling cell growth, influencing stress responses, and restructuring the tumor microenvironment, aiding immune evasion and promoting metastasis.

Many of these oncogenic metabolic changes are enriched in tumors. These insights offer promising new therapeutic targets for combating cancer.

This event provides a collaborative platform to exchange knowledge on how tumor cells exploit cellular signaling and metabolic pathways to support malignant growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leaders in the field and stay at the cutting edge of oncology innovation.

Sponsors

Presented By

The Cancer and Signaling
Discussion Group

Lead Supporter

Bacterial Vaccines and Immune Therapies

Join leading experts at the forefront of bacteriology, vaccine research, and therapeutic development for a two-day event in New York City on February 2-3, 2026.

The New York Academy of Sciences invites you to “Bacterial Vaccines and Immune Therapies” where top basic and translational scientists from academia and industry, clinical investigators, and regulators will explore the latest research on novel vaccine formulations, delivery technologies, transformative therapeutics, and implementation strategies to combat bacterial diseases.

Many bacterial infections are significant health problems worldwide, and the treatment of many infectious diseases is becoming increasingly challenging due to the development of antibiotic resistance. Vaccines that prevent and control infectious diseases caused by bacteria are urgently needed. Participate in this exciting conference to explore recent progress and remaining obstacles for transformative therapeutics for bacterial diseases.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with renowned experts, uncover groundbreaking studies, and discuss innovative therapeutic strategies. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the conversation.

Sponsors

Presented By

The Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Discussion Group

Lead Supporter

Food Waste

Organic composting.

Eligibility

  • This challenge is only open to Junior Academy students from the USA and countries in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. Mentors can be from any country.
  • Maximum of six (6) students per team, plus one (1) mentor.

Overview

Nearly one third of all food worldwide goes to waste somewhere in the journey from farm to plate. The issue is not limited to wealthier countries, but causes of the waste vary by country and region, and the impact is not equitable. Preventing the billion metric tons of food wasted each year could reduce world hunger, minimize greenhouse gasses, and prevent habitat and biodiversity loss across the globe. In this challenge, you are asked to design innovative technological and social solutions that reduce food waste with an eye towards promoting sustainability, equity, and responsible consumption.

Challenge

Design an innovative, scalable solution that helps reduce food waste at the local level (household, local restaurants, retail) or at the regional level (agriculture), while promoting sustainability, equity, and responsible consumption.

Consider the following when designing your solution:

  • What type of food waste will your solution address?
    • Household waste? Restaurant or grocery waste?
    • Specific foods such as fresh vegetables? Meat? Dry goods?
    • Specific harvests or regions?
    • Something else?
  • How can your solution be available to and adopted by the entire community?
  • How will you approach the problem? Will you take a technology approach or a social approach?
  • How can your solution address equity issues in food availability?
    • How might you integrate community co-design into your solution?
    • How might your solution be scaled to impact other regions or other countries?
  • How can you keep the cost of your solution low enough to encourage implementation?
  • How sustainable is your solution? 
  • What region or community might your solution impact the most?
  • What public policy might be needed to support or implement your solution?

See the challenge course syllabus.

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
  • Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
  • Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
  • Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
  • Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
  • Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)

See the challenge rubric.

Sponsors

The Junior Academy is implemented by The New York Academy of Sciences and is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI is a U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Aspen Institute.

Marine Biodiversity

An underwater shot.

Eligibility

  • This challenge is open to Junior Academy students who are residents of one of the 5 boroughs of New York City.
  • Maximum of six (6) students per team, plus one (1) mentor.

Overview

Offshore wind farms can offer a renewable energy source to meet the growing demand for energy of coastal communities and cities around the world, but there are also some environmental drawbacks. The construction and presence of wind turbines can disrupt marine life behavior, damage sensitive marine habitats, and reduce biodiversity in marine communities. This challenge asks you to design and plan offshore wind farms with the least negative impact on marine life that support and even increase biodiversity. How could you make offshore wind energy truly sustainable?

Challenge

Design an innovative solution that supports marine biodiversity by creating or improving marine habitats within or around offshore wind farms, while also minimizing disruption and damage to the ocean floor and water column during installation and operation.

Consider the following when designing your solution:

  • How could your solution also incorporate strategies for ongoing environmental monitoring and mitigation to ensure long-term ecosystem health?
  • What will motivate industry to implement your solution?
  • What policies might need to be implemented at the government level to fully realize your solution?
  • How will materials be sourced? Will there be a downstream environmental impact?
  • What will your solution cost? Will it be a practical choice?

See the challenge course syllabus.

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
  • Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
  • Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
  • Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
  • Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
  • Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)

See the challenge rubric.

Sponsor

Energy Infrastructure: Solar Power

Solar panels.

Eligibility

  • This challenge is open to all Junior Academy students.
  • Maximum of six (6) students per team, plus one (1) mentor.

Overview

In an increasingly electrified world, shifting from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy is necessary to sustainably meet the growing demand. Making this transition will require 2 areas of innovation:

  1. Retrofitting current infrastructure, building new solar-ready infrastructure, and/or replacing aging power grids originally built to rely on fossil fuels.
  2. Technology that allows for the efficient and reliable distribution of solar power from areas and times of high solar input to areas and times of high electricity demand.

What innovative solution could you design to make the shift from traditional energy sources to renewable solar energy a reality?

Challenge

Design an innovative and scalable solution to improve electrical infrastructure and/or energy storage technology in order to make solar energy use more reliable, efficient, and economical for meeting the energy demands of technology and society.

Consider the following when designing your solution:

  • What level will you focus your solution on? Individual households or buildings? City infrastructure? Regional power grids? Agriculture? Nomadic communities?
  • What geographical or governmental region will you focus your solution on? What are the most urgent energy challenges in this region? How can your solution be scaled to other regions?
  • What are the supply, demand, distribution needs, and storage capabilities of electricity for your specific territory or geographical location?
  • What might be the cost of your solution? Will it be affordable for your focus audience?
  • How might retrofitting be part of your solution?
  • How could Artificial Intelligence (AI) be incorporated into your solution? Identifying ideal locations for retrofitting existing infrastructure? Managing energy flow? Managing energy use and storage? Through machine learning? Diagnosing and/or responding to system or grid fluctuations? Something else?
  • How can you use available data and research to inform or test your solution?
  • How will you prototype your solution?
  • Could your solution be expanded to other renewable energy sources such as wind or geothermal?

See the challenge course syllabus.

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
  • Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
  • Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
  • Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
  • Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
  • Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)

See the challenge rubric.

Sponsor

Combating Extreme Heat Environments through Technology Architecture Infrastructure and Urbanization

Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Spring 2025
“Living in the Extremes”

Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences

Published August 5, 2025

By Nicole Pope

Team members: Katelyn G. (Team Lead) (California, United States), Rishab S. (India), Adham M. (Egypt), Youssef I. (Egypt), Shravika S. (Virginia, United States)
Mentor: Anavi Jain (Tennessee, United States)

As record-breaking temperatures due to the climate crisis become more common around the world, especially in vulnerable regions like the Middle East, South Asia, and the southwestern United States, more than 1.2 billion people are at risk of heat stress. Areas that were already hot — such as Death Valley in California — are now experiencing conditions that regularly exceed historical records, with temperatures soaring above 134°F (56.7°C). The five international members of the winning team set themselves a clear objective: finding an innovative approach to improve the housing and living environment for communities living in scorching heat.

To devise their creative project – a housing and living concept they called Technology Architecture Infrastructure Urbanization (TAIU) – the high-school students, from the United States, Egypt, and India, held multiple online discussions, exchanging ideas across borders and time zones. In the course of their research, they learned that modern infrastructure and architecture have not kept pace with climate change. In fact, urban settings often amplify the impact of high temperatures – with asphalt and buildings made of concrete, steel, and glass retaining heat rather than deflecting it.

The team explored various building techniques and cooling methods. Historically, communities living in hot climates used passive designs, such as thick, breathable walls, shaded courtyards, and reflective surfaces to keep living spaces cool. “While my teammates leaned towards modern solutions, I advocated for a blend of traditional methods with contemporary technologies,” explains teammate Shravika S. Discussions were at times intense but always collegial while the students were developing their concept. They reached decisions democratically, under the supervision of the team’s mentor.

A Vision Emerges

From their brainstorming, a vision emerged: a sustainable project that creates a safer and more comfortable environment for people living in hot climates, without resorting to costly and energy-intensive technologies that put further strain on the planet. “By fusing ancient wisdom with future-ready innovation, TAIU offers not just shelter from the heat but a blueprint for thriving in it. With each structure we build, we’re not only cooling homes — we’re restoring hope, equity, and the possibility of a livable future for the world’s hottest regions,” the students explained in their presentation.

Inspired by Nubian architecture, their project rests on four pillars:

  • 1. Smart technology – an adaptive roof that tilts and rotates to optimize ventilation, glass that tints in response to sunlight, and phase change materials that regulate indoor temperature;
  • 2. Indoor design that blends Nubian pottery materials with passive cooling techniques to improve air flow and create breathable spaces;
  • 3. The TAIU App – a smart home system that controls the roof and provides real-time climate and energy updates; and
  • 4. Outdoor features, such as shaded areas, hydration stations, and solar-powered resilience centers that provide services and spaces where the community can gather.

“I gained valuable insight into the needs and challenges faced by the community we studied — Death Valley — where living in extreme heat demands both modern and traditional solutions,” explains teammate Adham M. “One of my biggest takeaways is realizing that blending smart technologies like smart windows and smart roofs with time-tested methods like clay construction can offer sustainable, effective ways to adapt to harsh environments.”

Conducting a Survey

To test their approach, the team consulted architects, engineers and environmental experts. A survey conducted among 248 people living in hot regions yielded useful suggestions that the team applied to finetune their design, such as expanding the use of clay insulation and rerouting cooling pipes within wall cavities. Early results from laboratory and field tests of traditional pottery composites confirmed that special clay blends can reduce indoor peak temperatures by up to 5oF.

While working on their project, the students gained new insights into the devastating effects of climate change. “I realized that air conditioning is affecting not only my life but also those who are yet to come,” says team member Rishab S. “I adopted several measures to reduce the use of air-conditioners. I started wearing lighter clothes, consuming drinks that cool down our bodies, and using windows for proper ventilation.”

Team member Youssef I. feels he has acquired new knowledge and skills, including a deeper understanding of modelling since he was responsible for producing the 3D housing model. But he also emphasizes many other benefits, such as communicating with people from different communities and cultural backgrounds and forming new friendships. For team leader Katelyn G., this Junior Academy Challenge was more than an academic experience. “It was a glimpse into the kind of changemaker I strive to become,” she explains. “From the very beginning, we weren’t just building a climate resilience solution; we were building trust across time zones, merging perspectives, and learning to lead with both head and heart.”

Learn more about the Junior Academy.

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