Katherine A. Bowers, PhD, MPH

Member, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

katherine.bowers@cchmc.org

About

Biography

My interest in research came from a long-standing desire to understand the etiology of autism spectrum disorders. After joining Cincinnati Children’s in 2012, I began to study child development more broadly. My research is primarily in perinatal epidemiology, and my specific areas of interest include exposures and conditions during pregnancy and their implications for offspring health.

Two of my primary projects focus on psychosocial factors and diabetes experienced in pregnancy. The first one is about how adversity experienced by individuals in poverty affects child development and how DNA methylation may underlie this effect. The second project follows the offspring of women who had diabetes in pregnancy. I am interested in the long-term effects of metabolic and neurobehavioral impairments.

Interests

Infant and child development; epigenetics; pregnancy; health disparities

Research Areas

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Publications

Neonatal AVPR1a Methylation and In-Utero Exposure to Maternal Smoking. Nidey, N; Bowers, K; Ding, L; Ji, H; Ammerman, RT; Yolton, K; Mahabee-Gittens, EM; Folger, AT. Toxics. 2023; 11:855.

THU203 Self-puberty Staging In Endocrine Encounters During The COVID Pandemic. Ebo, C; McCray, J; Bowers, K; Rose, SR; Jones, NY. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2023; 7:bvad114.1454.

1149-P: Health Literacy and Numeracy Based on The Newest Vital Sign Is Not Associated with Hemoglobin A1c in Caretakers or Youth with Type 1 Diabetes. SANCRAINTE, L; SHAH, AS; BOWERS, KA; LEYENDECKER, AC; YAYAH JONES, N. Diabetes. 2023; 72.

Epigenome-wide association of neonatal methylation and trimester-specific prenatal PM2.5 exposure. Parikh, MN; Brokamp, C; Rasnick, E; Ding, L; Mersha, TB; Bowers, K; Folger, AT. Environmental Epidemiology. 2022; 6:e227.

Epigenome-Wide Association of Neonatal Methylation and Prenatal PM2.5 Exposure Suggests Timing-Specific Effects. Parikh, M; Brokamp, C; Rasnick, E; Ding, L; Mersha, T; Bowers, K; Folger, A. ISEE Conference Abstracts. 2022; 2022.

Association Between Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Neonatal SCG5 DNA Methylation-Effect Modification by Prenatal Home Visiting. Folger, AT; Nidey, N; Ding, L; Ji, H; Yolton, K; Ammerman, RT; Bowers, KA. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2022; 191:636-645.

Caregivers of individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: Perspectives, experiences, and relationships with medical professionals. Webster, J; Wiley, S; Schorry, E; Bowers, K; Collins Ruff, K; Riddle, I. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2022; 31:153-163.

Substance Use and Utilization of Prenatal and Postpartum Care. Nidey, N; Kair, LR; Wilder, C; Froehlich, TE; Weber, S; Folger, A; Marcotte, M; Tabb, K; Bowers, K. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2022; 16:84-92.

Pregnancy and Infant Development (PRIDE)-a preliminary observational study of maternal adversity and infant development. Bowers, K; Ding, L; Yolton, K; Ji, H; Nidey, N; Meyer, J; Ammerman, RT; Van Ginkel, J; Folger, A. BMC Pediatrics. 2021; 21:452.

Elevated Anthropometric and Metabolic Indicators among Young Adult Offspring of Mothers with Pregestational Diabetes: Early Results from the Transgenerational Effect on Adult Morbidity Study (the TEAM Study). Bowers, K; Ehrlich, S; Dolan, LM; Gupta, R; Altaye, M; Ollberding, NJ; Szczesniak, R; Catalano, P; Smith, E; Khoury, JC. Journal of Diabetes Research. 2021; 2021:6590431.

From the Blog

Health Inequities

DNA Methylation May Serve as Biomarker for Maternal Stress Passed to Children

Katherine A. Bowers, PhD, MPH, Alonzo T. Folger, PhD, MS3/21/2022