Investigators with DOR’s Women’s and Children’s Health section examine a broad spectrum of topics, with a strong focus on translating discoveries in population science to real-world clinical practice around perinatal environment exposures, autism in children, pregnancy-related disorders such as gestational diabetes and perinatal depression, and other issues in women’s health.
Our researchers are associated with important national initiatives, such as the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. With access to a large, diverse patient population, we have designed studies such as Gestational Diabetes’ Effects on Moms, which evaluated a lifestyle diabetes prevention program implemented at the health system level. Our investigators work closely with Kaiser Permanente clinicians who care for pregnant women to explore factors that contribute to perinatal depression, gestational diabetes and other conditions, and to design interventions. We can also tap Kaiser Permanente expertise in predictive analytics to build a neonatal sepsis calculator to predict which newborns may develop the life-threatening disorder.
The section is also home to an active Autism Research Program, whose work spans the entire lifecourse, from prenatal factors in autism through the transition of pediatric patients with autism into adult health care.
Perinatal Health
DOR investigators have made important contributions to the knowledge of how in-utero and early-life exposures to environmental, behavioral and metabolic factors affect various health risks for a child throughout life.
Children's Health
DOR investigators have expertise in clinical interventions and quality of care for preterm infants; and childhood conditions, including asthma, obesity, and autism.
Women's Health
DOR investigators are studying prevention, treatment, and the short- and long-term effects of obesity, excess gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and the menopause transition among diverse women.
ECHO Program
DOR investigators are active in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, and have received multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health to recruit and follow the health of mothers and children over many years.
Scientists
Monique M. Hedderson, PhD
Associate Director
Jennifer L. Ames, MS, PhD
Lyndsay A. Avalos, PhD, MPH
Sylvia E. Badon, PhD
Shalmali Bane, PhD
Susan D. Brown, PhD
Rana Chehab, PhD, MPH, RD
Lisa A. Croen, PhD
Julianna Deardorff, PhD
Samantha F. Ehrlich, PhD
Assiamira M. Ferrara, MD, PhD
Mara B. Greenberg, MD
Luke P. Grosvenor, PhD
Bethany R. Hallenbeck, PhD
Kendria Kelly-Taylor, PhD
Ai Kubo, MPH, PhD
Michael W. Kuzniewicz, MD, MPH
De-Kun Li, MD, PhD
Susanna Mitro, PhD
Thomas Newman, MD
Alicia Peterson, PhD
Ana Rosen Vollmar, PhD, CPM, LM
Yvonne Wu, MD, MPH
Yeyi Zhu, PhD
Publications
Research published by Women’s and Children’s Health investigators.
Studies
Research projects by Women’s and Children’s Health investigators.
