Michael K. Georgieff

Michael K. Georgieff, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics, Developmental Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Minnesota. He holds the Martin Lenz Harrison Land Grant Chair in Pediatrics and serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. He is Co-Director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain and Director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Development. His research focuses on fetal/neonatal nutrition and brain development, particularly iron's role in neurocognitive function. Georgieff has been continuously funded by NIH since 1992 and has published over 250 articles. He advises major organizations like AAP, NIH, and UNICEF on nutrition and child development.

Education: MD from Washington University in St. Louis, followed by training at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Minnesota. His work combines clinical practice in neonatology with research into nutritional impacts on neurodevelopment.

Research emphasizes the 'first 1000 days' of life, linking nutrient deficiencies (e.g., iron, choline) to long-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes. His lab uses preclinical models (e.g., mice) and human studies to explore mechanisms like epigenetics. Key findings have influenced public health policies globally.

Grants include NIH funding for over 30 years, and he mentors students through multiple training grants (MSTP, GPN, CTSI). His lab collaborates with institutions worldwide, focusing on early life adversity’s lifelong consequences.