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Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors Center
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Archived News

  • PEPH E-News January 2018. Volume 9, Issue 1: January 2018.
    Featured in NIEHS PEHP Newsletter: Increasing Diversity in the Environmental Health WorkforceJanuary 1, 2018
    Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) Newsletter by NIEHS Volume 9, Issue 1: January 2018 A new internship program for undergraduate students is providing research…Continue Reading Featured in NIEHS PEHP Newsletter: Increasing Diversity in the Environmental Health Workforce
  • PEPH Newsletter. Volume 11, Issue 8: September 2020
    Featured in NIEHS PEHP Newsletter: New Story Map Shows COVID-19 Disparities Along Racial and Ethnic LinesSeptember 1, 2020
    Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) Newsletter by NIEHS Volume 11, Issue 8: September 2020 A new interactive story map developed by NIEHS-funded researchers sheds light on…Continue Reading Featured in NIEHS PEHP Newsletter: New Story Map Shows COVID-19 Disparities Along Racial and Ethnic Lines
  • Los Angeles Map
    NIEHS Community Engagement: MADRES Story Map Depicts the Overlap of COVID-19 and Environmental StressorsAugust 6, 2021
    August 06, 2021 The NIEHS-funded Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) Center for Environmental Health Disparities has developed an interactive story map. It depicts…Continue Reading NIEHS Community Engagement: MADRES Story Map Depicts the Overlap of COVID-19 and Environmental Stressors
  • A research coordinator wearing face mask with a study participant also wearing face mask in a clinic.
    KSOM Newsroom: Air pollution exposure during pregnancy is linked with greater risk of depression among LatinasDecember 4, 2021
    December 04, 2021 By Cristine Hall Low-income Hispanic/Latina women who are exposed to higher levels of air pollution during mid-pregnancy are at greater risk of…Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: Air pollution exposure during pregnancy is linked with greater risk of depression among Latinas
  • The top of a spray bottle with plants.
    KSOM Newsroom: Household pesticide use harms infant gross motor development, study showsJanuary 6, 2022
    January 06, 2022 By Laura LeBlanc Ixel Hernandez-Castro grew up next to a dairy farm near Fresno, California, where she remembers a plane would fly…Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: Household pesticide use harms infant gross motor development, study shows
  • NIH NIEHS Logo
    NIEHS Science Highlights: Air Pollution Exposure During Pregnancy Is Linked With Greater Risk of Depression Among LatinasJanuary 31, 2022
    January 31, 2022 Low-income Hispanic women who are exposed to high levels of air pollution during mid-pregnancy may be at greater risk of depression one year postpartum,…Continue Reading NIEHS Science Highlights: Air Pollution Exposure During Pregnancy Is Linked With Greater Risk of Depression Among Latinas
  • A research coordinator wearing face mask with a study participant also wearing face mask in a clinic.
    Featured by the American Heart AssociationMarch 3, 2022
    March 3, 2022 Diet may play a role in development of pregnancy complications among Hispanic/Latina women American Heart Association Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health…Continue Reading Featured by the American Heart Association
  • A research coordinator wearing face mask with a study participant also wearing face mask in a clinic.
    NIEHS Science Highlights: Diet May Play a Role in Development of Pregnancy Complications Among Hispanic WomenJune 5, 2022
    June 05, 2022 Diet may play a role in the development of dangerous high blood pressure disorders in late pregnancy among Hispanic women, according to research at…Continue Reading NIEHS Science Highlights: Diet May Play a Role in Development of Pregnancy Complications Among Hispanic Women
  • Picture of Rima Habre, ScD
    NIEHS News & Media: Habre Talks Air Pollution and Children’s HealthNIEHS News & Media:September 26, 2022
    September 26, 2022 Rima Habre, Sc.D., of the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) was interviewed for the PBS documentary “Something in the…Continue Reading NIEHS News & Media: Habre Talks Air Pollution and Children’s HealthNIEHS News & Media:
  • Woman and child standing outside of oil drilling site.
    Toxic Pollutants a Growing Concern for Pregnant Mothers and BabiesOctober 6, 2022
    By Dan Ross October 6, 2022 eborah Bell-Holt lives near a decades-old drilling site in South L.A., where oil sucked to the surface comes laced with…Continue Reading Toxic Pollutants a Growing Concern for Pregnant Mothers and Babies
  • Portrait of Isabella Hernandez.
    KSOM Newsroom: USC student wins American Association of Public Health student awardOctober 17, 2022
    By Bokie Muigai October 17, 2022 Isabella Hernandez is a 2022 recipient of the Public Health Education and Health Promotion (PHEHP) Student Award from the American Public…Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: USC student wins American Association of Public Health student award
  • African-American women holding a baby with pollutants in the background.
    NIEHS Science Highlights: Tracy Bastain Discusses Contribution of MADRES With California-Based PublicationOctober 21, 2022
    October 21, 2022 Tracy Bastain, Ph.D., co-director with Carrie Breton, Sc.D., of the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) Center for Environmental…Continue Reading NIEHS Science Highlights: Tracy Bastain Discusses Contribution of MADRES With California-Based Publication
  • Infographic of Air Pollution affecting mothers and babies.
    USC Today, Health News: Air pollution, stress contribute to low-birth-weight babies for L.A. Latinas, study findsOctober 25, 2022
    By Pamela Madrid October 25, 2022 Fetal growth — which is delicate and precisely programmed — may be disrupted by a mother’s exposure to air…Continue Reading USC Today, Health News: Air pollution, stress contribute to low-birth-weight babies for L.A. Latinas, study finds
  • Newborn baby wrapped in a blanket
    Publicado por Univision: Bajo peso de bebés al nacer de madres hispanas podría estar vinculado a la contaminación, revela estudioOctober 27, 2022
    Por: Univision October 26, 2022 El bajo peso de los bebés recién nacidos y la contaminación ambiental podrían estar relacionados. Así lo reveló un estudio de la…Continue Reading Publicado por Univision: Bajo peso de bebés al nacer de madres hispanas podría estar vinculado a la contaminación, revela estudio
  • Portrait of Rima Habre, ScD
    NIEHS Science Highlights: Rima Habre, Sc.D. — Creating More Precise Exposure ProfilesNovember 7, 2022
    November 07, 2022 Through her research on air pollution, Rima Habre, Sc.D., of the University of Southern California (USC), wants to learn exactly what pollutants…Continue Reading NIEHS Science Highlights: Rima Habre, Sc.D. — Creating More Precise Exposure Profiles
  • Census 2020 application
    MADRES Study featured in EHP NewsJanuary 6, 2023
    Paradox Lost? The Waning Health Advantage among the U.S. Hispanic Population By Wendee Nicole January 6, 2023 Read more here….Continue Reading MADRES Study featured in EHP News
  • MADRES Pilot Awardees: Max Aung, Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, Nemmi Cole, Nan Ji, and Santiago Morales.
    NIEHS Science Highlights: MADRES Pilot Projects Promote Environmental Health and RepresentationFebruary 23, 2023
    February 23, 2023 The Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) Center for Environmental Health Disparities is beginning their 2023 pilot projects. Through this initiative,…Continue Reading NIEHS Science Highlights: MADRES Pilot Projects Promote Environmental Health and Representation
  • California Health Report Logo
    MADRES Study Featured in California Health Report NewsMarch 27, 2023
    Can Cash Payments Improve the Health of Pregnant People and Children? By Claudia Boyd-Barrett March 27, 2023 Read more here….Continue Reading MADRES Study Featured in California Health Report News
  • Environmental Factor: Your Online Source for NIEHS News. April 2023
    NIEHS Papers of the Month: MADRES Paper Featured in Environmental FactorApril 1, 2023
    Latina mothers in Los Angeles express concern and frustration over environmental health burdens By Julie Leibach April 2023 Read more here….Continue Reading NIEHS Papers of the Month: MADRES Paper Featured in Environmental Factor
  • Map of environmental pollution in Los Angeles
    NIEHS Community Engagement: MADRES Center Documents Latina Mother’s Environmental Health ConcernsApril 7, 2023
    April 7, 2023 To advance public health, researchers and health practitioners must understand the lived experiences of the communities they serve, according to a study…Continue Reading NIEHS Community Engagement: MADRES Center Documents Latina Mother’s Environmental Health Concerns
  • Newborn baby in cot
    Daily Trojan News: Gestation complications make babies biologically younger, study findsApril 18, 2023
    By Xiangyuan Chi April 18, 2023  A study co-authored by a Keck School of Medicine professor found an extremely rare aging pattern in which newborns with certain gestation…Continue Reading Daily Trojan News: Gestation complications make babies biologically younger, study finds
  • Research in 60 Seconds YouTube screenshot of Zhongzheng Niu, PhD.
    Research in 60 Seconds: Pollution and PregnancyMay 5, 2023
    May 05, 2023 Researchers Zhongzheng Niu, PhD, and Carrie Breton, ScD, with the MADRE Center for Environmental Health Disparities, studied the adverse effect of air…Continue Reading Research in 60 Seconds: Pollution and Pregnancy
  • Preventive Pros, the podcast logo
    Preventive Pros, the podcast: Air Pollution and Pregnancy with Carrie Breton and Zhongzheng (Jason) NiuMay 23, 2023
    May 23, 2023 Check out recent MADRES work featured on Preventive Pros, the podcast of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the…Continue Reading Preventive Pros, the podcast: Air Pollution and Pregnancy with Carrie Breton and Zhongzheng (Jason) Niu
  • Portraits of USC Sustainability Fellows
    USC Today, Science/Technology News: USC’s first Sustainability Solutions postdocs help shape a greener futureSeptember 5, 2023
    By Paul McQuiston September 05, 2023 USC’s first cohort of Presidential Sustainability Solutions Fellows has arrived on campus, ready to take on the planet’s multiple…Continue Reading USC Today, Science/Technology News: USC’s first Sustainability Solutions postdocs help shape a greener future
  • Rubber duck and paint
    Carrie Breton, ScD, MADRES Center Co-Director, Featured in The ExaminationSeptember 13, 2023
    Everyday products expose us to thousands of chemicals. We’re still learning what they do to our bodies. By Kyle Bagenstose September 13, 2023 Read more here….Continue Reading Carrie Breton, ScD, MADRES Center Co-Director, Featured in The Examination
  • Portrait of Ixel Hernandez-Castro standing with her poster presentation.
    NIEHS Community Engagement: Early Career Researcher Studies Exposures to Protect Babies and MothersOctober 18, 2023
    October 18, 2023 Ixel Hernandez-Castro, a doctoral student in epidemiology in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, spoke with NIEHS…Continue Reading NIEHS Community Engagement: Early Career Researcher Studies Exposures to Protect Babies and Mothers
  • Portrait of Max Aung, PhD.
    NIEHS 2023 Grantee Highlights: Max Aung, Ph.D. – Tackling Environmental Exposures in Marginalized CommunitiesNovember 14, 2023
    November 14, 2023 When Max Aung, Ph.D., was an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz, he was studying molecular biology. A pivotal experience…Continue Reading NIEHS 2023 Grantee Highlights: Max Aung, Ph.D. – Tackling Environmental Exposures in Marginalized Communities
  • Heart hands over a pregnant belly
    MADRES featured on EHN: Understanding how the environment affects pregnant people’s healthFebruary 1, 2024
    After years of focusing on babies and children, researchers find that exposure to environmental hazards can have long-term effects on pregnant people’s health, too. By…Continue Reading MADRES featured on EHN: Understanding how the environment affects pregnant people’s health
  • Doctor performing ultrasound on patient
    KSOM Newsroom: Diet linked to preeclampsia among low-income Hispanic women during pregnancyFebruary 27, 2024
    A new USC study suggests that interventions in diet during pregnancy could help address this health disparity faced by Hispanic/Latina women….Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: Diet linked to preeclampsia among low-income Hispanic women during pregnancy
  • Pregnant person holding glass of water
    KSOM Newsroom: Fluoride exposure during pregnancy linked to increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems, study findsMay 20, 2024
    Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC conducted the first U.S.-based study examining the link between prenatal fluoride and childhood social, emotional and behavioral functioning….Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: Fluoride exposure during pregnancy linked to increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems, study finds
  • A glass of water on table
    MADRES research selected as an NIEHS Extramural Paper of the Month for AugustAugust 1, 2024
    Researchers from the MADRES Center conducted the first U.S.-based study examining the link between prenatal fluoride and childhood social, emotional and behavioral functioning….Continue Reading MADRES research selected as an NIEHS Extramural Paper of the Month for August
  • Our Summer 2024 Newsletter is out!August 15, 2024
    Read about our pilot projects symposium, publication and presentation updates, and media mentions….Continue Reading Our Summer 2024 Newsletter is out!
  • KSOM Newsroom: Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and persistent postpartum depressionSeptember 12, 2024
    A recent MADRES study finds exposure to air pollution during pregnancy increases postpartum depression risk for at least three years….Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and persistent postpartum depression
  • Audience watching a presentation
    KSOM Newsroom: USC Researchers Present the Latest on Environmental Health in Santiago, Chile at 2024 International Society for Environment Epidemiology ConferenceSeptember 30, 2024
    By Bokie Muigai September 30, 2024 The 36th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environment Epidemiology was hosted in Santiago Chile, from August 25-28,…Continue Reading KSOM Newsroom: USC Researchers Present the Latest on Environmental Health in Santiago, Chile at 2024 International Society for Environment Epidemiology Conference
  • woman pushes a baby in a stroller past gang graffiti in East Hollywood
    MADRES research featured in LA Times: Some forms of air pollution may prolong postpartum depression, researchers sayOctober 5, 2024
    By Tony Briscoe Exposure to unhealthy levels of air pollution during pregnancy may prolong postpartum depression symptoms in new mothers, according to new research. A team…Continue Reading MADRES research featured in LA Times: Some forms of air pollution may prolong postpartum depression, researchers say

MADRES Center

1845 N. Soto St. Suite 102
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Email: madres@usc.edu

MADRES Center is a program of the Division of Environmental Health of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC

Supported by:
NIH: P50MD015705; P50ES026086; UH3OD023287
EPA: 83615801

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  • Infographics/Infografías