Virginia Weaver

Associate Professor
Director, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Associate Faculty Member, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research

Academic Degrees

BA, Biology, University of Rochester, 1980; MD, New York University School of Medicine, 1984; MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1991

School/Organization
Bloomberg School of Public Health

Department / Division
Environmental Health Sciences
Occupational and Environmental Health

Joint Departmental Affiliations
Departments of Medicine

Departmental Address
615 N. Wolfe St., W7513A
Baltimore , MD 21205

Email: vweaver@jhsph.edu
Phone: 410-955-4355
Fax: 410-955-1811

For more information visit my personal web page.

Research and Professional Experience

• Dr. Weaver’s research interests involve the use of molecular epidemiology tools in the evaluation of populations exposed to occupational and environmental chemicals. The validation of exposure and early biological effect markers to improve clinical evaluation and medical surveillance is a primary focus. Identification of susceptible populations is an additional goal.
• Her primary area of research is the impact of occupational and environmental toxicants on the kidney. Currently, she is studying clinical and early biological effect markers (urinary retinol-binding protein and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)) for the renal system in lead workers in South Korea. This longitudinal study is evaluating the effects of lead and cadmium exposure on a range of renal outcomes. Interaction with genetic susceptibility factors and chronic diseases, such as hypertension, is also a focus in this work. She has also studied biomarkers for benzene exposure in urban populations, including children.
• Dr. Weaver’s clinical activities also involve biomarker applications, thus complimenting her research. These activities have included management of a medical surveillance program for cadmium exposed workers in which blood and urine cadmium and beta-2 microglobulin were monitored. In addition, she was a co-investigator in a medical surveillance program for former workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This project involves workers with many previous exposures and uses the lymphocyte proliferation test to assess for presence of sensitization from previous beryllium exposure.

Honors and Awards

• Magna cum laude, University of Rochester, 1980
• Phi Beta Kappa, University of Rochester, 1980
• Recipient, Occupational Physicians Scholarship Fund Award, 1990-92
• Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society - Alpha Chapter, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and Hygiene, 1991
• Ho-Ching Yang Memorial Faculty Fellowship in Cancer Prevention, 1995

Research Projects
Environmental And Genetic Risk Factors For Renal Function Decline
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Strategies to prevent the renal function decline that can ultimately result in ESRD are essential. The impact of environmental exposures has received relatively little attention in this regard, despite the fact...

Mechanisms for Adverse Renal Effects from Lead Exposure
Prevention strategies for end stage renal disease are essential, however, environmental nephrotoxicants are seldom considered. We are investigating a broad set of causes of renal function decline, including lead and cadmium dose, blood pressure, diabetes, and age, in a longitudinal study of...



Selected Publications

• Weaver VM, Griswold M, Todd AC, Jaar BG, Ahn K-D, Thompson CB, Lee B-K. Longitudinal associations between lead dose and renal function in lead workers. Env Res. 2009 Jan;109(1):101-7. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2008.09.005
• Ekong E, Jaar BG, and Weaver VM. Lead-related nephrotoxicity: A review of the epidemiologic evidence. Kidney International.2006. doi:10.1038/sj.ki.5001809
• Weaver VM. Section 6.4 (pp 6-88 to 6-113): “Renal Effects of Lead” in U.S. EPA. Air Quality Criteria for Lead (Final). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-05/144aF-bF, 2006.
• Glenn BS, Bandeen-Roche K, Lee B-K, Weaver VM, Todd AC, and Schwartz BS. Changes in systolic blood pressure associated with lead in blood and bone. Epidemiol. 2006;17:538-544.
• Weaver VM, Lee B-K, Todd AC, Ahn K-D, Shi W, Jaar BG, Kelsey KT, Lustberg ME, Silbergeld EK, Parsons PJ, Wen J, and Schwartz BS. Effect modification by delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, vitamin D receptor, and nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms on associations between patella lead and renal function in lead workers. Environ Res. 2006;102:61-69.
• Weaver VM, Schwartz BS, Jaar BG, Ahn K-D, Todd AC, Lee S-S, Kelsey KT, Silbergeld EK Lustberg ME, Parsons PJ, Wen J, and Lee B-K. Associations of uric acid with polymorphisms in the delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, vitamin D receptor, and nitric oxide synthase genes in Korean lead workers. Environ Health Perspect. 2005; 113:1509-1515.
• Weaver VM, Lee B-K, Todd AC, Jaar BG, Ahn K-D, Wen J, Shi W, Parsons PJ, and Schwartz BS. Associations of patella lead and other lead biomarkers with renal function in lead workers. J Occup Environ Med. 2005;47:235-243.
• Weaver VM, Jaar BG, Schwartz BS, Todd AC, Ahn K-D, Lee S-S, Wen J, Parsons PJ, and Lee B-K. Associations among lead dose biomarkers, uric acid, and renal function in Korean lead workers. Environ Health Perspect. 2005;113:36-42.
• Weaver VM, Schwartz BS, Ahn K-D, Stewart WF, Kelsey KT, Todd AC, Wen J, Simon DJ, Lustberg M, Parson PJ, Silbergeld E, Lee B-K. Associations of renal function with polymorphisms in the delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, vitamin D receptor, and nitric oxide synthase genes in Korean lead workers. Environ Health Perspect. 2003;111:1613–1619.
• Weaver VM, Lee B-K, Ahn K-D, Lee G-S, Todd AC, Stewart WF, Wen J, Simon DJ, Parson PJ, Schwartz BS. Associations of lead biomarkers with renal function in Korean lead workers. Occup Environ Med. 2003;60:551-562.
• Breysse PN, Weaver VM, Cadorette M, Wiggs L, Curbow B, Stefaniak A, Melius J, Newman L, Smith H, and Schwartz BS. Development of a medical examination program for former workers at a Department of Energy national laboratory. Am J Ind Med. 2002;42:443-454.
• Weaver VM, Buckley T, Groopman JD. Lack of specificity of trans, trans-muconic acid as a benzene biomarker after ingestion of sorbic acid-preserved foods. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. 2000;9:749-755.
• Weaver VM, Buckley TJ, Groopman JD. Approaches to environmental exposure assessment in children. Environ Health Perspect. 1998;106(Suppl 3):827-832.
• Weaver VM and Austin-Dailey VM. Pharmaceuticals. In: Frazier LM, Hage M, eds. Reproductive Hazards of the Workplace. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold;1997:289-311.
• Weaver VM. Chemical hazards. In: McDiarmid M and Kessler ER, eds. Health Care Hazards. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews. Philadelphia:Hanley & Belfus, Inc. 1997;12(4):655-667.
• McDiarmid MA, Presson AC, Weaver VM, Fujikawa J. Controlling occupational exposure to hazardous drugs. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 1996;53:1669-1685.
• Weaver VM, Davoli CT, Heller P, Fitzwilliam A, Peters H, Sunyer J, Murphy SE, Goldstein G, and Groopman JD. Benzene exposure, assessed by urinary trans,trans-muconic acid, in urban children with elevated blood lead levels. Environ Health Perspect.1996;104:318-323.
• Weaver VM, Davoli CT, Murphy SE, Sunyer J, Heller PJ, Colosimo SG, and Groopman JD. Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Inner-city Children. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention. 1996;5:135-137.

Last Updated: 1/23/2009 | Update Your Faculty Page