- Promotor
- Promotor
- Co-promotor
- Co-promotor
- Date
- Wednesday 19 Feb 2020, 13:30 - 15:00
- Type
- PhD defence
- Space
- Professor Andries Querido room
- Building
- Education Center
- Location
- Erasmus MC
On Wednesday 19 February 2020, D. Levie will defend her PhD dissertation, entitled: ‘Maternal Iodine Status, Thyroid Function During Pregnancy, and Child Neurodevelopment’.
Thyroid hormone regulates the brain development of the fetus. The fetus does not have a mature thyroid gland until mid-pregnancy and is dependent on the transfer of thyroid hormone via the placenta. Adequate maternal thyroid hormone concentrations are therefore essential for an optimal development of the fetal brain. Sufficient iodine intake is also important because iodine is a component of thyroid hormone. This dissertation investigated which factors determine the iodine status (i.e., urinary iodine concentration) of pregnant women, how iodine status is associated with thyroid function during pregnancy, and how maternal iodine status and thyroid function during pregnancy are related to the IQ score, the risk of ADHD, and autistic traits of the child. This was investigated by means of prospective cohort research.
The public defence will take place at the Prof. Andries Queridoroom, 3rd floor Education Center, Erasmus MC. The ceremony will begin exactly at 13.30 hrs. In light of the solemn nature of the ceremony, we recommend that you do not take children under the age of 6 to the first part of the ceremony.