Mead Johnson Nutrition and Mass General Brigham expand research program with 5-year commitment to advancing pediatric and lifespan nutrition
Initial projects include infant gut microbiome, human milk composition and innovative applications of artificial intelligence
EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 15, 2026 – In a significant expansion of its sponsored nutrition research program, Mead Johnson Nutrition has entered into a scientific agreement with Mass General Brigham, one of the largest hospital-based research organizations in the United States. The agreement between the infant nutrition company based in Evansville, Ind., and Mass General Brigham, based in Somerville, Mass., went into effect January 1, 2026.
The strategic research collaboration represents a 5-year commitment to increased funding from Mead Johnson Nutrition to support nutrition-based research across the lifespan with scientists and clinicians at Mass General Brigham and around the globe.
quote icon“With more than 120 years of research and development in infant nutrition, Mead Johnson has built a strong scientific foundation. Expanding our collaboration with Mass General Brigham allows us to continue advancing the science that supports infant health and nutrition.”
Susan Sholtis President of Mead Johnson Nutrition
Work has begun on the first two projects, according to Alessio Fasano, MD, Senior Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Science and Medical Officer of Mead Johnson Nutrition. “We’re hitting the ground running with projects focused on research into human milk composition and a deeper scientific understanding of the nutritional needs of premature and other vulnerable infants, including those with cow’s milk protein allergy,” says Fasano. “Our initial projects will be focused on infant nutrition, as we expand our research enterprise through up-to-date tools and technologies.”
Fasano also serves as Director of the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center in the Department of Pediatrics and as a physician at the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Mass General Brigham.
The projects bring together Mass General Brigham principal investigators with expertise in pediatric gastroenterology, nutrition and artificial intelligence (AI) with Mead Johnson Nutrition researchers working in areas such as AI applications, prematurity and human milk composition. One project will explore the premature infant gut using intestinal organoids, or “mini-guts,” developed in the laboratory to study biological characteristics of the premature intestine.
“The program will engage and provide research support for principal investigators, post-doctoral researchers, technicians and other laboratory personnel. This collaboration will support essential research to grow and advance foundational science in the field,” says Joanne Wolfe, MD, Physician-in-Chief at Mass General Brigham for Children.
“This agreement builds on decades of collaboration between Mead Johnson Nutrition and Mass General Brigham to advance high-quality, evidence-based science to support infant nutrition,” says Angela Naef, PhD, Chief Research and Development Officer at Reckitt, Mead Johnson Nutrition’s parent company. “By working with leading researchers and leveraging emerging technologies, we aim to expand contributions to pediatric research and broader nutrition science throughout the lifespan.”
About Mead Johnson Nutrition
For over a century Mead Johnson Nutrition has been a global leader in science-backed pediatric nutrition, combining state-of-the-art research with a commitment to the highest quality and nutritional standards to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life. Our Enfa portfolio is trusted by parents and healthcare professionals around the world to support growing families at every stage of development. Reckitt Benckiser Group plc acquired Mead Johnson Nutrition in 2017. For more information, please visit About Us | Mead Johnson Nutrition Institute.
About Mass General Brigham
Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic health care system, uniting great minds to solve the hardest problems in medicine for our communities and the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a nonprofit organization committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations with several Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org.