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Publications & Funding

  • Publications
  • Funding

Publications

The Center for Better Beginnings actively contributes to the understanding of birth defects and pregnancy outcomes by publishing articles in scientific journals detailing the findings of our research. We have published articles on topics that include but are not limited to:

Alcohol and Pregnancy

Jones KL, Chambers C. Biomarkers of fetal exposure to alcohol: identification of at-risk pregnancies. J Pediatr. 1998;133:316-8 .

Chambers CD, Jones KL. Is genotype important in predicting the fetal alcohol syndrome? Pediatrics. 2002;141:751-2.

Jones KL, Chambers CD, Hill LL, Hull AD, Riley EP. Alcohol use in pregnancy: inadequate recommendations for an increasing problem. BJOG. 2006;113(8):967-8.

Chambers CD, Kavteladze L, Joutchenko L, Bakhireva L, Jones KL. Alcohol consumption patterns among pregnant women in the Moscow region of the Russian Federation. Alcohol. 2006;38(3):133-7.

Jones KL, Robinson L, Bakhireva L, Marintcheva G, Storojev V, Strahova A, Sergeevskaya S, Budantseva S, Mattson S, Riley E, Chambers C. Accuracy of the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome by pediatricians after specialized training. Pediatrics. 2006;118(6):e1734-8.

Jones KJ, Hoyme HE, Robinson LK, del Campo M, Manning MA, Prewitt L, Chambers CD. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: extending the range of structural defects. Am J Med Genet A. 2010;152A:2731-5. PMCID:PMC3143840

Chambers CD, Yevtushok L, Zymak-Zakutnya N, Korzhynskyy Y, Ostapchuk L, Akhmedzhanova D, Chan PR, Xu R, Wertelecki W. Prevalence and predictors of maternal alcohol consumption in 2 regions of Ukraine. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014;38(4):1012-9.

Antidepressants and Pregnancy

Chambers CD, Johnson KA, Dick LM, Felix RJ, Jones KL. Birth outcomes in pregnant women taking fluoxetine. New Engl J Med. 1996;335:1010-5 .

Chambers CD1, Hernandez-Diaz S, Van Marter LJ, Werler MM, Louik C, Jones KL, Mitchell AA. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 9;354(6):579-87.

Chambers CD, Moses-Kolko E, Wisner KL. Antidepressant use in pregnancy: new concerns, old dilemmas. Expert Rev Neurother. 2007;7(7):761-4.

Chambers CD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and congenital malformations. BMJ. 2009;339:b3525.

Asthma and Pregnancy

Chambers C. Safety of asthma and allergy medications in pregnancy. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2006;26:13-28.

Bakhireva LN, Schatz M, Jones KL, Chambers CD. Asthma control during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery or impaired fetal growth. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008;101:137-43.

Autoimmune Diseases, Treatments, and Pregnancy

Chambers CD, Tutuncu ZN, Johnson D, Jones KL. Human pregnancy safety for agents used to treat rheumatoid arthritis: adequacy of available information and strategies for developing post-marketing data. Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8(4):215.

Chambers CD, Johnson DL, Robinson LK, Braddock SR, Xu R, Lopez-Jimenez J, Mirrasoul N, Salas E, Luo YJ, Jin S, Jones KL, OTIS Collaborative Research Group. Birth outcomes in women who have taken leflunomide during pregnancy. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;65(5):1494-1503.

Cassina M, Johnson D, Robinson L, Braddock S, Xu R, Lopez-Jimenez J, Mirrasoul N, Salas E, Luo Y, Jones KL, Chambers CD; the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Collaborative Research Group. Pregnancy outcome in women exposed to leflunomide before or during pregnancy. Arthritis and Rheum. 2012;64(7):2085-94.

Chambers CD, Johnson DL. Emerging data on the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha medications in pregnancy. Birth Defects Res A Clin Molec Teratol. 2012;94(8):607-11.

Miscellaneous Medication Exposures and Pregnancy

Chambers CD, Jones KL, Lammer EJ, Van Bennekom CM, Mitchell AA. Accutane-exposed pregnancies – California, 1999. MMWR. 2000;49:28-31 .

Jones KL, Johnson KA, Dick LM, Felix RJ, Kao KK, Chambers CD. Pregnancy outcomes after first trimester exposure to phentermine/fenfluramine. Teratology. 2002;65:125-30.

Medical Conditions and Pregnancy

Chambers CD, Jones KL. Risk for fetal death after fever in pregnancy. Lancet. 2002;360:1526. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12443593

Vaccines and Pregnancy

Chambers CD, Johnson D, Xu R, Luo Y, Louik C, Mitchell AA, Schatz M, Jones KL; OTIS Collaborative Research Group. Risks and safety of pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine in pregnancy: birth defects, spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery, and small for gestational age infants. Vaccine. 2013;31(44):5026-32.

Dysmorphology and Teratology Miscellaneous Studies

Chambers CD, Castilla EE, Orioli I, Jones KL. Intrauterine growth restriction in like-sex twins discordant for structural defects. Birth Defects Res Part A Clin Mol Teratol. 2006;76(4):246-8.

Chambers CD, Chen BH, Kalla K, Jernigan L, Jones KL. Novel risk factor for gastroschisis: change in paternity. Am J Med Ge net. 2007;143(7):653-9.

Jones KL, Benirschke K, Chambers CD. Gastroschisis: etiology and developmental pathogenesis. Clin Genet. 2009;75(4):322-5.

Jones KL, Jones MC. 50 years ago in the J Pediatr: The no.18 trisomy syndrome. J Pediatr. 2012; 160(4):566.

Jones KL, Weiss LA, Hagey LR, Gonzalez V, Benirschke K, Chambers CD. Altered lipid metabolism in gastroschisis: a novel hypothesis.Am J Med Genet A. 2013;161A(8):1860-5.

Research Methodology

Chambers C. The role of teratology information services in screening for teratogenic exposures: challenges and opportunities. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2011;157C(3):195-200.

Chambers CD, Braddock SR, Briggs GG, Einarson A, Johnson YR, Miller RK, Polifka JE, Robinson LK, Stepanuk K, Jones KL. Post marketing surveillance for human teratogenicity: a model approach. Teratology. 2 001;64:252-61.

Chambers CD. Value of the small cohort study including a physical examination for minor structural defects in identifying new human teratogens. Congenit Anom (Kyoto). 2011;51(1):16-20

Comprehensive List of Publications

To view a complete list of publications from each of our faculty, click on the author’s name below:

Ken Lyons Jones

Tina Chambers

Miguel del Campo Casanelles

Kristin Palmsten

Diana Simmes

Ongoing Funding

  • Apremilast Pregnancy Exposure Registry: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: Celgene
    • Date: 9/25/2014 – 9/24/2019
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal of the study is to monitor planned and unplanned pregnancies exposed to apremilast and to evaluate the possible teratogenic effect of this medication relative to specified pregnancy outcomes, and to evaluate potential effects of prenatal apremilast exposure on infant health through one year of age.

  • California Birth Defects Monitoring Program

     

    • Sponsor: California Department of Health
    • Date: 4/01/2016 – 3/31/2019
    • PI: Chambers

    This contract is to manage the ongoing surveillance program for birth defects in representative California counties as conducted by the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division of the California Department of Health.

  • California Teratogen Information Service & Clinical Research Program (MotherToBaby California)

     

    • Sponsor: State of California: Department of Education
    • Date: Annual
    • PI: Jones

    Two major goals of this program are to provide telephone information to pregnant women and healthcare providers throughout the State of California regarding the teratogenicity of various agents and investigate the pregnancy outcomes of women with prenatal exposure to various agents.

  • Certolizumab Pegol Pregnancy Exposure Registry: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: UCB Pharma, Inc.
    • Date: 2/13/2012- 2/12/2017
    • PI: Chambers

    The purpose of the OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project, Certolizumab Pegol Pregnancy Exposure Registry is to follow pregnant women with or without rheumatoid conditions or Crohn’s disease who have or have not been treated with certolizumab pegol during pregnancy to evaluate the possible effect of these diseases and/or this medication on the pregnancy outcome including child development and growth up to five years of age.

  • Collaboration to Establish the Prevalence of FASD in San Diego, California

     

    • Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
    • Date: 9/20/2010- 8/31/2017
    • PI: Chambers

    The goal of this study is to establish an accurate, population-based prevalence estimate of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in San Diego by systematically evaluating a representative sample of children in the San Diego School System, children in foster care, and children who have developmental disabilities.

  • Development of a Model Resource and Support Network for FASD-Affected Families in Tribal and Urban Native American Communities

     

    • Sponsor: NARCH VII: Native American Research Centers for Health
    • Date: 9/01/2013 – 8/31/2018
    • PI: Chambers

    This study develops a culturally tailored design for a model NOFAS program “from within” native community setting.

  • Dysmorphology Core

     

    • Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
    • Date: 9/30/2003- 5/31/2017
    • PI: Jones

    The major goal of this project is to evaluate children prenatally exposed to alcohol and unexposed comparison subjects. In order to train additional physicians this study will develop a training DVD to teach physicians an approach to diagnose FASD. This study will also develop a tele-communication system whereby physicians in remote areas with little or no expertise in diagnosis of FASD can consult with a remotely located expert on a physical examination of a child being evaluated for FASD.

  • Early Identification of Affected Children and Risk Factors for FASD in Ukraine

     

    • Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
    • Date: 9/30/2003 – 5/31/2017
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal of this project is the identification of effective methods for prevention and early intervention for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). In this longitudinal study in Ukraine, earlier identification and prevention of FASD is being evaluated in four areas: a) the contribution of pre and postnatal nutritional factors to risk for FASD, b) development of a preschool neurobehavioral testing battery appropriate for early identification of affected children, c) the utility of a novel and objective biomarker of exposure to alcohol, and d) exploration of genetic and epigenetic factors that may modify risk for FASD in mother/child pairs.

  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention, Identification, and Treatment: Trainings and Education for Healthcare Providers by the Western Practice and Implementation Center

     

    • Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    • Date: 9/20/2014 – 9/29/2018
    • PI: Jones

    The Western Practice and Implementation Center will develop, disseminate and evaluate discipline-specific trainings on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders for pediatricians and women’s health and perinatal nurses.

  • Influence of Nutrition on Growth and Neurodevelopment in Children with FASD in Ukraine

     

    • Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
    • Date: 9/10/2012- 6/30/2017
    • PI: Chambers

    Based on data from an ongoing intervention trial in Ukraine conducted in a sample of high-alcohol consuming pregnant women, this study will follow the approximately 300 children born to those women and comparison women who have been retained in the cohort study to evaluate the contribution or effect modification of child nutritional status on neurodevelopment and growth.

  • Maternal and Child Federal Consolidated Program

     

    • Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
    • Date: 9/01/2014 – 8/31/2017
    • PI: Jones

    The goal of this initiative is to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes by providing education, individualized counseling, improved access to resources, and advancing the knowledge base related to safety of exposures to medications and environmental agents before, during, and after pregnancy.

  • Postmarketing Surveillance of Afluria Safety in Pregnancy

     

    • Sponsor: American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI); Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (VAMPSS)
    • Date: 8/01/2013- 7/31/2017
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal of this project is to evaluate the maternal and fetal risks associated with the use of the afluria influenza vaccine during pregnancy.

  • Prospective Follow-Up of Pregnancy Exposure to Adalimumab

     

    • Sponsor: AbbVie (Abbott) Laboratories
    • Date: 12/01/2003- 7/12/2017
    • PI: Jones

    This study investigates pregnancy outcomes of women with rheumatic diseases and Crohn’s Disease and prenatal exposure to adalimumab compared to unexposed disease-matched and non-diseased control groups.

  • The Mepolizumab Pregnancy Exposure Study: A VAMPSS post marketing surveillance study of Mepolizumab safety in pregnancy

     

    • Sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline LLC.
    • Date: 9/14/2016 – 7/31/2022
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal of this project is to evaluate the maternal and fetal risks associated with the use of Mepolizumab during pregnancy.

  • The Teriflunomide Pregnancy Exposure Registry: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: Genzyme (Sanofi-Aventis)
    • Date: 10/25/2011- 12/31/2019
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal of this project is to evaluate the fetal risk associated with the use of a new multiple sclerosis drug during pregnancy.

  • Tofacitinib Pregnancy Exposure Registry: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: Pfizer
    • Date: 6/17/2013 – 6/16/2018
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal of this study is to follow pregnant women with or without rheumatoid arthritis who have or have not been treated with tofacitinib during pregnancy to evaluate the possible effect of the disease and/or this medication on pregnancy outcome including child development and growth up to one year of age.

  • Ustekinumab Pregnancy Exposure Registry: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: Janssen Biotech, Inc
    • Date: 6/01/2013 – 12/31/2020
    • PI: Chambers

    The specific aim of this study is to monitor planned and unplanned pregnancies exposed to ustekinumab, to evaluate whether there are any teratogenic effects of this medication in pregnancy outcomes, and to evaluate potential effects of prenatal ustekinumab exposure on infant health status through one year of age.

  • Vedolizumab Pregnancy Exposure Registry: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc.
    • Date: 11/05/2015 – 11/04/2020
    • PI: Chambers

    The purpose of the OTIS Entyvio Pregnancy Exposure Registry is to monitor planned and unplanned pregnancies in UC or CD female patients exposed to vedolizumab and to evaluate any possible association between this medication and pregnancy outcome, including the health of the mother, fetus, and infant.

Recently Completed

  • Prospective Follow-Up Study of Pregnancy Exposure to Leflunomide: An OTIS Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project

     

    • Sponsor: Apotex, Inc, Barr Laboratories, Inc., TEVA pharmaceuticals, USA, Kali Laboratories, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals
    • Date: 7/18/2005- 7/31/2016
    • PI: Chambers

    The major goal of this project is evaluate the fetal risk associated with the use of the generic product leflunomide, a medication used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, during the first trimester of pregnancy.

  • Pregnancy Outcomes and Asthma Medications in Pregnancy: A Demonstration Project

     

    • Sponsor: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
    • Date: 2/25/2010 – 9/27/2015
    • PI: Chambers

    In collaboration with the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI), and in conjunction with a complementary project conducted by the Slone Epidemiology Center’s Birth Defects Study (BDS), this cohort study will generate and test hypotheses related to the comparative risk (or safety) for birth defects and other adverse outcomes of pregnancy associated with asthma medications.

  • H1N1 and Influenza Vaccines and Antiviral Medications in Pregnancy

     

    • Sponsor: Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (VAMPSS)
    • Date: 2/2010 – 9/2015
    • PI: Chambers

    The goals of this study are to monitor and evaluate fetal and maternal risk with respect to H1N1 vaccine, seasonal influenza vaccine, and antiviral medications used to prevent or treat influenza.

  • Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project: The Tocilizumab Pregnancy Registry

     

    • Sponsor: Hoffman La Roche Genentech
    • Date: 11/01/2010- 10/31/2016
    • PI: Chambers

    The main goal for this project is to evaluate the fetal risk associated with the use of Actemra when used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in pregnancy.