Developmental Neuroscience and Stunting:
A Strong Case for Action in the First 1000 Days

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
The Grand Luang Prabang Hotel
16-18 March 2016

Conference Summary

Developmental neuroscience is providing important insights into the effects of malnutrition on human health and development. Because the brain is critical to all facets of health and wellbeing, interventions that support and protect the brain’s development when it is most vulnerable (conception through approximately age 2) are critical to any society’s vitality. Nutritional interventions that target both the physical and neurobiological aspects of malnutrition appear to have the strongest and longest-lasting effects.

With sponsorship support from the Science Envoy Program at the U.S. Department of State, the conference brought together a small but active group of scientists, interventionists, and policy makers working in the area of child malnutrition in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.  The goal of the conference was to start a process of scientific advancement in SE Asia that (a) raises awareness among local scientists and decision-makers of scientific advances in the are of chronic malnutrition and brain development, b) identifies the most effective and promising intervention strategies, and c) leads to the implementation of a coordinated science-to-action plan within the region that will reduce by 2020 the prevalence of chronic malnutrition and protect the developing human brain.

The conference targeted the following areas:

DAY 1: The science of chronic malnutrition and neurodevelopment.

DAY 2: Intervention science targeting chronic malnutrition and the brain.

DAY 3: Science-to-action: Next steps and the creation of SEAN3 – Southeast Asia Nutritional Neuroscience Network.

Click here for the full AGENDA.