Martha Werler, DSc
Professor
Boston University School of Public Health
Epidemiology

MPH, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
BS, Boston College
DSc, Boston University



Dr. Werler is Professor and Chair of Epidemiology. She is a perinatal epidemiologist whose NIH- and CDC- supported research focuses on the impact of pregnancy exposures on birth outcomes, including congenital malformations, fetal growth, and neurodevelopment. She has studied medication use in pregnancy, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, anti-depressant, and anti-epileptic drugs. Her recent work explores prescription opioid use and treatments for opioid use disorder among pregnant women. She has published over 200 papers and book chapters, served as President of the Society for Epidemiology Research (2018-2021), been recognized for her mentorship of doctoral students by the Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research, been honored for her research on congenital anomalies by the Teratology Society Fraser Award and the National Birth Defect Prevention Network Oakley Award; and served on numerous NIH advisory and review boards. Dr. Werler is an Assistant Editor for the Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology journal. Dr. Werler directed the BU Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology training program for pre-doctoral candidates in Epidemiology and teaches Design and Conduct of Case-Control Studies.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

On a personal level, my thinking about race/ethnicity in my research, teaching and service has evolved and continues to evolve. This includes thoughtful conceptualization of 'race' in epidemiologic analyses and more circumspect interpretation of findings within my own research and in my peer- and program-review roles. In my courses, I seek to provide a range of learning materials that include contemporary public health issues, recognize disparities, and highlight diverse authors and study populations. At the Department level, I am overseeing a variety of activities stemming from the Department’s Anti-Racism Working Group report of September 2020. This includes a dedicated monthly meeting for all faculty, staff, and students in the department on anti-racism-related topics. In 2022-23, the Department's Anti-Racism Committee is leading a speaker series 'Measurement in the Study of Racism and Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Health.' I and seven other department members have completed a year-long racial literacy program with an outside consultant and are moving forward with action plans for the Department. Fostering inclusivity and diversity in all Department activities is a priority of mine, which I am approaching through the efforts described above and through hiring.

Chair of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health
Epidemiology




Early Life Course of Children with Congenital Structural Heart Anomalies
09/30/2022 - 09/29/2026 (PI)
HHS/Center for Disease Control
6 NU50DD000111-01-01

Massachusetts Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (BD STEPS) - Core
02/28/2019 - 06/30/2023 (Subcontract PI)
Comm. of Mass./Department of Public Health HHS CDC
5U01DD001224-03-00

Safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of extended-release naltrexone in pregnant women with opioid use disorder
10/01/2018 - 05/31/2023 (Subcontract PI)
Boston Medical Center Corporation NIH NICHD
5R01HD096798-05

Pregnancy in women with congenital physical disabilities: Risk factors, birth outcomes, and mediation
04/01/2019 - 03/31/2022 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
5R03HD098507-02

A Population-Based Study to Quantify the Risks of Opioid Analgesics in Pregnancy
09/01/2020 - 08/31/2021 (Subcontract PI)
Queen's University at Kingston NIH NICHD
5R03HD099617-02

A Population-Based Study to Quantify the Risks of Opioid Analgesics in Pregnancy
09/12/2019 - 08/31/2020 (Subcontract PI)
Queen's University at Kingston NIH NICHD
1R03HD099617-01

Exploring Modifiable Factors for Folic Acid Resistant Spina Bifida
09/01/2015 - 04/30/2019 (PI)
HHS/CDC/National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
6 U01DD001184-03-03

Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research
04/01/2014 - 03/31/2019 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
5R13HD055094-12

Zika Virus Colombia Cohort Study
09/01/2017 - 05/31/2018 (Multi-PI)
PI: Martha Werler, DSc
Vysnova Partners Inc., HHS CDC


BURPPE: BU REPRODUCTIVE, PERINATAL, AND PEDIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM
05/01/2016 - 08/31/2017 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
4T32HD052458-10

Showing 10 of 17 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2020 Pregnancy in women with congenital physical disabilities: Risk factors, birth outcomes, and mediation 5R03HD098507-02
2019 Pregnancy in women with congenital physical disabilities: Risk factors, birth outcomes, and mediation 1R03HD098507-01
2018 BD-STEPS II (Birth Defects Study To Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS) - Core 1U01DD001224-01 5
2018 BD-STEPS II (Birth Defects Study To Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS) - Core 6U01DD001224-01M002 5
2018 EXPLORING MODIFIABLE FACTORS FOR FOLIC ACID RESISTANT SPINA BIFIDA 6U01DD001184-03M002 6
2018 EXPLORING MODIFIABLE FACTORS FOR FOLIC ACID RESISTANT SPINA BIFIDA 6U01DD001184-03M001 6
2018 Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research 5R13HD055094-12 2
2017 EXPLORING MODIFIABLE FACTORS FOR FOLIC ACID RESISTANT SPINA BIFIDA 5U01DD001184-03 6
2017 Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research 5R13HD055094-11 2
2016 EXPLORING MODIFIABLE FACTORS FOR FOLIC ACID RESISTANT SPINA BIFIDA 5U01DD001184-02 6
Showing 10 of 54 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Petersen JM, Hutcheon JA, Bodnar LM, Parker SE, Ahrens KA, Werler MM. Weight gain patterns among pregnancies with obesity and small- and large-for-gestational-age births. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Apr; 31(4):1133-1145.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36942419; PMCID: PMC10034596; DOI: 10.1002/oby.23693;
     
  2. Neo DT, Desrosiers TA, Martin CL, Carmichael SL, Gucsavas-Calikoglu M, Conway KM, Evans SP, Feldkamp ML, Gilboa SM, Insaf TZ, Musfee FI, Shaw GM, Shumate CJ, Werler MM, Olshan AF. Neighborhood-level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy and risk of gastroschisis. Epidemiology. 2023 Mar 28. PMID: 36976718
     
  3. Neo DT, Desrosiers TA, Martin CL, Carmichael SL, Gucsavas-Calikoglu M, Conway KM, Evans SP, Feldkamp ML, Gilboa SM, Insaf TZ, Musfee FI, Shaw GM, Shumate CJ, Werler MM, Olshan AF. Neighborhood-level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy and risk of gastroschisis. Epidemiology. 2023 Mar 28. PMID: 36976718
     
  4. Sok P, Sabo A, Almli LM, Jenkins MM, Nembhard WN, Agopian AJ, Bamshad MJ, Blue EE, Brody LC, Brown AL, Browne ML, Canfield MA, Carmichael SL, Chong JX, Dugan-Perez S, Feldkamp ML, Finnell RH, Gibbs RA, Kay DM, Lei Y, Meng Q, Moore CA, Mullikin JC, Muzny D, Olshan AF, Pangilinan F, Reefhuis J, Romitti PA, Schraw JM, Shaw GM, Werler MM, Harpavat S, Lupo PJ. Exome-wide assessment of isolated biliary atresia: A report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study using child-parent trios and a case-control design to identify novel rare variants. Am J Med Genet A. 2023 Mar 21. PMID: 36942736
     
  5. Sok P, Sabo A, Almli LM, Jenkins MM, Nembhard WN, Agopian AJ, Bamshad MJ, Blue EE, Brody LC, Brown AL, Browne ML, Canfield MA, Carmichael SL, Chong JX, Dugan-Perez S, Feldkamp ML, Finnell RH, Gibbs RA, Kay DM, Lei Y, Meng Q, Moore CA, Mullikin JC, Muzny D, Olshan AF, Pangilinan F, Reefhuis J, Romitti PA, Schraw JM, Shaw GM, Werler MM, Harpavat S, Lupo PJ. Exome-wide assessment of isolated biliary atresia: A report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study using child-parent trios and a case-control design to identify novel rare variants. Am J Med Genet A. 2023 Jun; 191(6):1546-1556. PMID: 36942736
     
  6. Bektas G, Soderborg T, Slater C, Agarwal J, Racioppi M, Hogan T, Werler MM, Wachman EM. The Neonatal Withdrawal Assessment Tool (NWAT): pilot inter-rater reliability and content validity. J Perinatol. 2023 Mar 13.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36914798
     
  7. Smith-Webb RS, Barnard-Mayers R, Werler MM, Parker SE. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and adolescent assessment of behavior: Discrepancies by age and reporter. Front Pharmacol. 2023; 14:1084781.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36937866; PMCID: PMC10017987; DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1084781;
     
  8. Smith-Webb RS, Barnard-Mayers R, Werler MM, Parker SE. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and adolescent assessment of behavior: Discrepancies by age and reporter. Front Pharmacol. 2023; 14:1084781.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36937866; PMCID: PMC10017987; DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1084781;
     
  9. Howley MM, Fisher SC, Fuentes MA, Werler MM, Tracy M, Browne ML. Agreement between maternal report and medical records on use of medications during early pregnancy in New York. Birth Defects Res. 2023 Mar 01; 115(4):498-509. PMID: 36640121
     
  10. Brogly SB, Bowie AC, Li W, Camden A, Velez MP, Guttmann A, Werler MM. Safety of prenatal opioid analgesics: Do results differ between public health insurance beneficiary and population-based cohorts? Birth Defects Res. 2023 Mar 15; 115(5):555-562.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36628593
     
Showing 10 of 256 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 251 publications over 38 distinct years, with a maximum of 18 publications in 2011

YearPublications
19851
19862
19873
19881
19893
19903
19911
19923
19933
19942
19952
19963
19972
19994
20004
20013
20025
20036
20043
20055
20066
20077
20088
200913
20107
201118
201212
201316
201415
201512
201612
20177
20189
201912
20208
202112
202211
20237

2014 National Birth Defects Prevention Network: Godfrey P. Oakley Award
2012 Soc. Pediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology Research: Mentoring Award
2003 BU School of Public Health: Distinguished Alumni
2000 Teratology Society: Clark Fraser New Investigator Award
Contact for Mentoring:

715 Albany St Talbot Building
Boston MA 02118
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