Professor
Associate Chair, Director of the Global Disease Epidemiology and Control Division
BSc, University of Cape Town, 1978; MS, Princeton University, 1982; ScD, Johns Hopkins University, 1993
Bloomberg School of Public Health
International Health
Global Disease Epidemiology and Control
Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Ophthalmology
Center for Human Nutrition
My research aims to reduce mortality and morbidity in under-served populations in the United States and abroad. The underlying discipline bases for this research are epidemiology and biostatistics. Areas of focus include (1) ophthalmic epidemiology and blindness prevention, (2) macro and micronutrient deficiencies, (3) interaction between nutrition and infection. In ophthalmology, areas of interest include the epidemiology of glaucoma, cataract, trachoma, refractive errors, and ocular trauma. In nutrition, areas of interest include community-based randomized trials to evaluate the impact of various micronutrient interventions on morbidity and mortality (vitamin A, iron, zinc). -
Current projects include -
1. A randomized trial to assess the impact of newborn massage with mustard seed versus sunflower seed oil on neonatal morbiity and mortality in rural Nepal. -
2. A randomized trial to assess the impact of maternal influenza vaccination on respiratory infections in mothers and infants in Bahktapur, Nepal. -
3. Step wedge trial to assess the impact of improving cook stoves to reduce indoor air pollution and respiratory infections in young children in rural Nepal. -
4. Global and regrional estimation of the neonatal and infant mortality burden of being born preterm and/or small for gestational age, and maternal risk factors for preterm and/or small for gestational age outcomes through the Child Health Epidemiology Research Group (CHERG). -
5. A study to examine the impact of various micronutrient supplements in utero and early childhood on growth, nutritional status, cognition, hearing, physiologic function and early markers of chronic disease in children 6-22 years of age in rural Nepal. -
6. A study to examine whether iron and/or zinc supplementation in utero and/or in early childhood (prior to age 3) has an impact on cognition at age 6-7 years in rural Nepal. -
7. Randomized community trial in Bangladesh to assess the impact of maternal supplementation with multiple micronutrients on infant morbidity and mortality. -
8. Multi-centered clinical trial of treatment for uveitis.
epidemiology, ophthalmology, biostatistics, community trials, blindness, visual impairment, glaucoma, cataract, trachoma, refractive error, ocular trauma, vitamin A, iron, zinc, micronutrients, neonatal health, adolescent pregnancy, reproductive health, Nepal, Bangladesh.
Delta Omega, 1993 -
Fellow, American College of Epidemiology, 1994 Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2002, 2005 -
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Fellow, 2009 -
American Academy of Ophthalmology Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Profession of Ophthalmology, 2009
Research Projects
Antenatal and Preschool Iron and Zinc Supplementation and Cognition
Chronic deficiency of essential micronutrients is the most common, preventable form of malnutrition in the developing world, affecting millions of infants, young children and pregnant women. Interest is growing in understanding effects of specific micronutrient deficiencies early in life,...
Cookstore Replacement for Prevention of ARI and Low Birthweight in Nepal
The goals of our research program are to determine which interventions are most effective at reducing the burden of mortality and morbidity among women and children in high-risk populations in developing countries. At our field site in southern Nepal, acute respiratory illness (ARI) has been a...
Field Trials of Maternal Influenza Immunization in Asia and Africa: Mother’s Gift Trials
To evaluate the impact of maternal influenza immunization during pregnancy on maternal and infantmorbidity through 6 months of age: trials in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Follow-up Health and Nutrition Survey of Participants of Micronutrient Intervention Trials in Nepal from 1989 through 2001
In multiple intervention trial cohorts in southern Nepal, aged 6-8 yrs, 9-12 yrs and 16-22 years of age, to examine the long-term impact of various micronutrient supplement interventions provided as part of randomized, placebo-controlled trials during pregnancy (ie, in utero) and early childhood...
Impact of iron and zinc supplementation on development in Nepalese children
Research has shown a link between iron and zinc deficiencies and adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes. However, data from randomized trials are inconclusive. Recent studies from the Sarlahi district of Nepal indicate that approximately 40% of children are iron deficient and over half have...
Intra-uterine growth restriction and preterm birth as risk factors for neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality
This subcontract will estimate global and region-specific incidence of preterm and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), the disease burden (morbidity and mortality in neonates and infants) associated with IUGR and preterm globally and by region, and identify maternal risk factors, with...
Micronutrient Deficiency Study - Jivita (Off Campus)
A randomized community trial of 36,000 pregnancies to assess the impact of a multiple micronutrient antenatal supplement on infant mortality.
Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial
This randomized trial compares the efficacy and safety of aggressive local therapy
with the fluocinolone acetonide implant versus systemic therapy for patients with
severe non-infectious uveitis.
Nepal Cookstove Replacement Trial
Impact of reducing carbon monoxide exposure from use of biomass fuel sources in the home on prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction in rural Southern Nepal: The Nepal Cookstove Intervention Trial
Newborn Vitamin A Supplementation Trial to Reduce Infant Mortality in Bangladesh
A double-masked, randomized, 26,000-infant trial, following positive outcome studies in Indonesia and India, to confirm an ability of newborn supplementation with 50,000 IU of vitamin A to reduce infant mortality by 20% or more in the 1st six months of life. Positive findings would pave the way...
Training in International Maternal and Child Health
The purpose of this five year Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) Training Grant (T32) is to train qualified United States citizens to undertake research in the area of maternal and child health in developing country settings. The program proposes to provide long-term training of...
1. Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, West KP Jr, Christian P. The post-partum nutritional status of adolescents is diminished by pregnancy in rural Nepal. Mat Child Nutr (accepted for publication). -
2. Checkley W, West KP Jr, Wise R, Baldwin MR, LeClerq SC, Christian P, Katz J, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, Sommer A. Effects of maternal vitamin A supplementation on lung function in preadolescent offspring: A follow-up study of a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial cohort in rural Nepal. New Engl J Med (accepted for publication). -
3. Mullany LC, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM. Hypothermia during the neonatal period and associated risk of mortality in southern Nepal. Arch Ped Adolesc Med (accepted for publication). -
4. Mullany LC, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM. Incidence and seasonality of hypothermia among newborns in southern Nepal. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010;164(1):71-77. PMID: 20048245 -
5. The Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment Trial Research Group. The Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial: Rationale, Design and Baseline Characteristics. Am J Ophthalmol (accepted for publication). -
6. Christian P, Stewart CP, LeClerq SC, Wu L, Katz J, West KP Jr., Khatry SK. Antenatal and postnatal iron supplementation and childhood mortality in rural Nepal: A prospective follow-up in a randomized, controlled community trial. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1127-36. PMID: 19778983 -
7. Tielsch JM, Katz J, Thulasiraj RD, Coles CL, Sheeladevi S, Yanik EL, Rahmathullah L. Exposure to indoor biomass fuel and tobacco smoke and risk of adverse reproductive outcomes, mortality, respiratory morbidity and growth among newborn infants in south India. Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Oct;38(5):1351-63. PMID: 19759098 -
8. Coles CL, Sherchand JB, Khatry SK, Katz J, LeClerq SC, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM. Nasopharyngeal carriage of S. pneumoniae among young children in rural Nepal. Tropical Medicine & International Health 2009;14(9):1025-1033. PMID: 19563428 -
9. Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Giordano L, Ibironke J, Hawse P, Tielsch JM. Prevalence of Amblyopia and Strabismus in White and African American Children Aged 6 through 72 Months: The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study. Ophthalmology 2009;116:2128-34. PMID: 19762084 -
10. Katz J, Tielsch JM, Thulasiraj RD, Coles C, Sheeladevi S, Yanik EL, Rahmatullah L. Risk factors for maternal night blindness in rural South India. Ophthalmic Epidemiology 2009;16(3):193-197. PMID: 19437315 -
11. Thatte N, Mullany LC, Khatry SK, Katz J, Tielsch JM, Darmstadt GL. Traditional birth attendants in rural Nepal: knowledge, attitudes, and practices about maternal and newborn health. Glob Public Health. 2009;4(6):600-17. PMID: 19431006 -
12. Keay L, Lindsley K, Tielsch J, Katz J, Schein O. Routine preoperative medical testing for cataract surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009, Apr 15;(2):CD007293. Review. PMID: 19370681 -
13. Kordas K, Siegel EH, Olney DK, Katz J, Tielsch JM, Kariger PK, Khalfan SS, LeClerq SC, Khatry SK, Stoltzfus RJ. The effects of iron and/or zinc supplementation on maternal reports of sleep in infants from Nepal and Zanzibar. The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 2009;30(2):131-139. PMID: 19322104 -
14. Giordano L, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Hawes P, Tielsch JM. Prevalence of refractive error among preschool children in an American urban population: The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study. Ophthalmology 2009;116(4):739-746. PMID: 19243832 -
15. Falle T, Mullany LC, Thatte N, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Katz J, Tielsch JM. Potential role of traditional birth attendants’ in neonatal healthcare in rural southern Nepal. J Health Pop Nutr 2009;27(1):53-61. PMID: 19248648 -
16. Mullany LC, Darmstadt GL, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Adhikari RK, Tielsch JM. Risk of mortality subsequent to umbilical cord infection among newborns of southern Nepal: cord infection and mortality. Ped Infect Dis J 2009;28(1):17-20. PMID: 19034065 -
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