Breastfeeding can be central to the experience of having a baby, but human milk may now have another significant role in science.

Pregnancy and lactation could influence an individual’s breast cancer risk. But until now, it has been difficult for scientists to understand the changes that occur in the mammary gland (or breast) for expectant and new mothers due to the challenge of acquiring human tissue samples.

Cambridge researchers have recently discovered an intruiging solution to this issue: using live cells from human milk, and comparing them to resting, non-lactating breast tissue. They have identified two populations of milk producing cells and immune cells for further study, enabling scientists to better understand not only how the breast produces milk, but also the metabolic changes that occur during lactation which may modify the risk of cancer.

Join a Cambridge biologist and leading lactation expert as she discusses this groundbreaking research, and explains more about the secrets of the human breast.