Rajavel Elango

Associate Professor PhD

The goal of my research program is to identify protein and amino acid (building blocks of protein) requirements during key life stages, and in disease.

During active stages of growth and development such as pregnancy, lactation, childhood, the nutritional state affects long-term health. With the use of stable isotope tracers, which are completely safe for use in vulnerable populations, my research will measure requirements and trace complex amino acid metabolic pathways in the human body. The focus will be to make dietary protein and amino acid recommendations to improve long-term health for the mother and child.

Undernutrition or malnutrition has been implicated to be the underlying cause of ~50% of all deaths in children in the developing world. My research will examine the impact of childhood malnutrition on protein and amino acid requirements with collaborations between research institutes located in India and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Vancouver.