Martha Werler
Profiles

Martha M Werler, DSc

Professor, Epidemiology - Boston University School of Public Health

(617) 358-3728
werler@bu.edu
Talbot
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Biography

Dr. Werler is Professor 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.

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

Websites

Classes Taught

  • SPHEP722
  • SPHEP858
  • SPHEP911
  • SPHEP980

Publications

  • Published on 9/3/2024

    Ailes EC, Werler MM, Howley MM, Jenkins MM, Reefhuis J. Real-world data are not always big data: the case for primary data collection on medication use in pregnancy in the context of birth defects research. Am J Epidemiol. 2024 Sep 03; 193(9):1211-1214. PMID: 38751306.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 7/1/2024

    Blue EE, Moore KJ, North KE, Desrosiers TA, Carmichael SL, White JJ, Chong JX, Bamshad MJ, Jenkins MM, Almli LM, Brody LC, Freedman SF, Reefhuis J, Romitti PA, Shaw GM, Werler M, Kay DM, Browne ML, Feldkamp ML, Finnell RH, Nembhard WN, Pangilinan F, Olshan AF. Exome sequencing identifies novel genes underlying primary congenital glaucoma in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Birth Defects Res. 2024 Jul; 116(7):e2384. PMID: 38990107.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 5/21/2024

    Mantri S, Cheng AC, Saia K, Shrestha H, Amgott R, Bressler J, Werler MM, Carter G, Jones HE, Wachman EM. Neurobehavioral outcomes of infants exposed to buprenorphine-naloxone compared with naltrexone during pregnancy. Early Hum Dev. 2024 Jul; 194:106051. PMID: 38815498.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/1/2024

    Schrager NL, Parker SE, Werler MM. The timing, duration, and severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes among controls without birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Birth Defects Res. 2024 Apr; 116(4):e2334. PMID: 38578229.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 2/15/2024

    Kaelin VC, Saluja S, Bosak DL, Anaby D, Werler M, Khetani MA. Caregiver strategies supporting community participation among children and youth with or at risk for disabilities: a mixed-methods study. Front Pediatr. 2024; 12:1345755. PMID: 38425659.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 2/14/2024

    Wachman EM, Saia K, Bressler J, Werler M, Carter G, Jones HE. Case Series of Individuals Treated With Naltrexone During Pregnancy for Opioid and/or Alcohol Use Disorder. J Addict Med. 2024 May-Jun 01; 18(3):288-292. PMID: 38354121.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 2/1/2024

    Papadopoulos EA, Howley MM, Fisher SC, Van Zutphen AR, Werler MM, Romitti PA, Browne ML. Antifungal medication use during early pregnancy and the risk of congenital heart defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011. Birth Defects Res. 2024 Feb; 116(2):e2308. PMID: 38343154.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 1/23/2024

    Claus Henn B, Werler MM. Environmental causes of birth defects: challenges and opportunities. Pediatr Res. 2024 Jun; 95(7):1675-1676. PMID: 38263449.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 1/1/2024

    Tepper NK, Chowdhury J, Moore CA, Werler MM, Mishkin K, Reefhuis J. Public health priorities for gastroschisis: Summary of a meeting sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the March of Dimes. Birth Defects Res. 2024 Jan; 116(1):e2299. PMID: 38277411.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 12/31/2023

    Morrison TM, Schiff DM, Olson A, Hunter RG, Agarwal J, Work EC, Muftu S, Shrestha H, Boateng J, Werler MM, Carter G, Jones HE, Wachman EM. Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Opioid-Exposed versus Nonexposed Mother-Infant Dyads. Am J Perinatol. 2024 Jun; 41(8):1106-1112. PMID: 38160676.

     Read At: PubMed

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