
Martha M. Werler, DSc
Professor, Epidemiology - Boston University School of Public Health
Biography
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.
Other Positions
- Chair, Epidemiology - Boston University School of Public Health
Education
- Boston University, DSc Field of Study: Epidemiology
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, MPH Field of Study: Epidemiology
- Boston College, BS Field of Study: Biology
Classes Taught
- SPHEP722
- SPHEP858
Publications
- Published on 1/14/2023
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 Jan 14. PMID: 36640121.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 1/11/2023
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 Jan 11. PMID: 36628593.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 11/28/2022
Petersen JM, Parker SE, Dukes KA, Hutcheon JA, Ahrens KA, Werler MM. Machine learning-based placental clusters and their associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2022 Nov 28. PMID: 36441121.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 10/29/2022
Dodge MC, Cole M, Duffy ER, Werler MM, Kataria Y. Fifteen-Month Follow-Up of Anti-Spike Receptor-Binding Domain SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Healthcare Workers in Boston, MA. J Appl Lab Med. 2022 Oct 29; 7(6):1430-1437. PMID: 35793233.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/27/2022
Schrager NL, Parker SE, Werler MM. The association of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, its treatments, and select birth defects: Findings from the National Birth Defect Prevention Study. Birth Defects Res. 2023 Feb 01; 115(3):275-289. PMID: 36168701.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 8/1/2022
Esposito DB, Huybrechts KF, Werler MM, Straub L, Hernández-Díaz S, Mogun H, Bateman BT. Characteristics of Prescription Opioid Analgesics in Pregnancy and Risk of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome in Newborns. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Aug 01; 5(8):e2228588. PMID: 36001312.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 6/18/2022
Li J, Yang W, Wang YJ, Ma C, Curry CJ, McGoldrick D, Nickerson DA, Chong JX, Blue EE, Mullikin JC, Reefhuis J, Nembhard WN, Romitti PA, Werler MM, Browne ML, Olshan AF, Finnell RH, Feldkamp ML, Pangilinan F, Almli LM, Bamshad MJ, Brody LC, Jenkins MM, Shaw GM. Exome sequencing identifies genetic variants in anophthalmia and microphthalmia. Am J Med Genet A. 2022 Aug; 188(8):2376-2388. PMID: 35716026.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 6/1/2022
García MH, Petersen JM, Parker SE, Rubenstein E, Werler MM. Medication use during pregnancy among women with congenital physical disabilities. Birth Defects Res. 2022 08 15; 114(14):785-796. PMID: 35652163.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 3/24/2022
Esposito DB, Bateman B, Werler M, Straub L, Mogun H, Hernandez-Diaz S, Huybrechts K. Ischemic Placental Disease, Preterm Delivery, and Their Association With Opioid Use During Pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol. 2022 Mar 24; 191(5):759-768. PMID: 34165143.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 3/24/2022
Esposito DB, Bateman B, Werler M, Straub L, Mogun H, Hernandez-Diaz S, Huybrechts K. Esposito et al. Respond to "Opioid Use and Ischemic Placental Disease". Am J Epidemiol. 2022 Mar 24; 191(5):773-774. PMID: 34528055.
Read At: PubMed
View 238 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC
News & In the Media
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Published on August 3, 2021
Can the UK and India Offer Clues into the Future of the Delta Variant?
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Published on May 10, 2021
Study: States with Mask Mandates Saw Fewer Summertime COVID Cases
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Published on February 24, 2021
#NoComaCuento: Las Mascarillas No Enferman a Las Personas, Pero Sí Frenan Contagios de COVID-19
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Published on February 24, 2021
#NoComaCuento: Las Mascarillas No Enferman a Las Personas, Pero Sí Frenan Contagios de COVID-19
- Published on February 11, 2021
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Published on June 26, 2020
MCH Center of Excellence Offers New Training, Research, and Practice Opportunities
- Published on September 6, 2018
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Published on July 9, 2018
Professor Elected President of Society for Epidemiologic Research
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Published on July 9, 2015
Chronic Hypertension During Pregnancy May Lead to Congenital Birth Defects
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Published on June 2, 2014
EPI Chair Martha Werler Honored by National Birth Defects Prevention Network
- Published on March 27, 2014