Title:

Senior Epidemiologist
Slone Epidemiology Center

Professor of Epidemiology,
Boston University School of Public Health

Education:

B.D., 1980, Biology, Boston College
M.P.H., 1983, Environmental Epidemiology, The University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor
Sc.D., 1989, Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health

Research Interests:

Dr. Werler’s research interests include reproductive epidemiology, with focuses on maternal risk factors and methods. She has been conducting studies of various birth defects for over 20 years. Dr. Werler and colleagues conducted the first study to identify that women who take 400 micrograms of folic acid (the dose found in most over-the-counter multivitamins) in early pregnancy have a significantly lower risk of neural tube defects in their offspring. Her work has also identified maternal obesity as a major risk factor for neural tube defects. At present, she is conducting a study of dietary glycemic load and obesity in relation to birth defect risks. Dr. Werler has conducted many studies of medication use in pregnancy in relation to birth defect risks. She is particularly interested in the effects of vasoactive medications, such as decongestants, on the developing fetus. She has conducted studies to address this association, including the Multicenter Study of Gastroschisis and Small Intestinal Defects and the Case-control Study of Hemifacial Microsomia and Drug Use. She is currently principal investigator of a case-control study of clubfoot and vasoactive exposures. She is also conducting follow-up studies of children with and without craniofacial anomalies, such as hemifacial microsomia, oral clefts, and craniosynostosis. The goal of these projects is to determine whether affected children have social adaptation or other problems at early elementary ages. Dr. Werler is also an investigator with the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a case-control study in nine states that is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to her research, Dr. Werler mentors doctoral candidates and teaches Design and Conduct of Case-Control Studies and From Conceptualization to Manuscript: A Guided Epidemiologic Study in the Epidemiology Department.