Dr Jo (Shao) Zhou

Biography/ Background

Dr Zhou is a senior research scientist at the Women's & Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and the Foodplus Research Centre, University of Adelaide. Dr Zhou leads the Pregnancy and Early Childhood Nutrition Research Program. Prior to completing her PhD in 2005, she was an obstetrician (qualified in China) and a clinical dietitian. Her research has been focused on nutrition interventions in the pregnancy and early childhood to improve pregnancy outcomes and the long term health of mothers and children. Special research interests include fatty acid and micronutrients in health, and translation of research finding to clinical practice /public health policy. Dr Zhou has been successful in obtaining funding to support her research program and is a CI on 2 competitive grants and 2 industry grants worth over $3 million. She is currently leading a NHMRC funded multicentre study to investigate the effect of iodine nutrition in pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes and early childhood development.

Qualifications

2005 PhD, University of Adelaide
1999 Master of Nutrition & Dietetics, Flinders University of South Australia
1996 BSc, Flinders University of South Australia

Publications

Selective Peer Reviewed Publications

• Zhou SJ, Skeaff SA, Ryan P, Makrides M. Iodine deficiency in Australia: is iodine supplementation for pregnant and lactating women warranted? Med J Aust. 2010;193(5):310.
• Makrides M, Gibson RA, McPhee A, Yelland L, Quinlivan J, Ryan P and the DOMInO Investigative Team (including Zhou SJ). Effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal depression and neurodevelopment of young children. JAMA 2010; 304 (15): 1675-1683.
• Zhou SJ, Gibson RA, Crowther CA and Makrides M. Should we lower the dose of iron when treating anaemia in pregnancy?  A randomised dose response trial. EJCN. 2009; 63 (2):183 – 90.
• Parsons AG, Zhou SJ, Spurrier NJ and Makrides M. Effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on the behavior of children at early school age: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Br J Clin Nutr. 2008; 99 (5): 1133-9.
• Zhou SJ, Gibson RA and Makrides M. Routine iron supplementation in pregnancy has no effect on iron status of the children at 6 months and 4 years of age: a long term follow up of a randomised controlled trial. J Pediatr. 2007; 151 (4):438-440.
• Zhou SJ, Gibson RA, Baghurst P and Makrides M. Home environment, not breastfeeding or formula feeding, predicts intelligence quotient of children at 4 years. Nutrition; 2007; 23 (3): 236-241.
• Zhou SJ, Gibson RA, Crowther CA, Baghurst P, and Makrides M. Effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on the intelligence quotient and behavior of children at 4 y of age: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr; 2006; 83: 1112-1117.
• Zhou SJ, Schilling MJ, Makrides M. Evaluation of an iron specific checklist for the assessment of dietary iron intake in pregnant and postpartum women. Nutrition. 2005 Sep;21(9):908-13.

Professional Associations

·         Member of the Dietaitian Association of Australia, Accredited Practicing Dietitian

·         Member of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand

·         Member of the Nutrition Society of Australia

 

Entry last updated: Thursday, 12 May 2011