Tracy Bastain, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Clinical Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine

Websites: MADRES Center, Faculty Profile, Publications

Areas of research:

• Understanding the role of environmental exposures in utero, early life and during critical periods of development on lung growth, neurological development, asthma, obesity and metabolic outcomes and childhood growth trajectories

• Impact of psychosocial & environmental stressors on childhood obesity risk and maternal biobehavioral responses

• Adverse effect of air pollutants on pediatric growth trajectories and respiratory health function

• Health disparities, especially among Latina populations in Los Angeles

• Use of non-invasive technologies (imaging, biomarkers, mHealth) to improve phenotyping of respiratory and metabolic outcomes in epidemiologic studies in children

EH MATTERS Internship description:

Interns with the MADRES study will participate in a variety of research capacities. In addition to assisting the investigative team with literature reviews and presentations, opportunities exist for assisting with data collection with research participants, assisting study staff with participant visits and sample collection, as well as supporting the research activities through preparation of materials and helping with cohort retention events.

Some example duties include: Completing phone questionnaires with participants (7-14 Day Questionnaire and ASA24), preparation of biospecimen collection kits, sample transport, mailing of participant retention materials (newsletters, birthday cards, etc.), helping with retention events, and supervising children during study visits.

Key publications

Bastain TM, Chavez T, Habre R, et al. Study Design, Protocol and Profile of the Maternal And Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) Pregnancy Cohort: a Prospective Cohort Study in Predominantly Low-Income Hispanic Women in Urban Los Angeles. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):189. Published 2019 May 30. doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2330-7

O'Connor SG, Habre R, Bastain TM, et al. Within-subject effects of environmental and social stressors on pre- and post-partum obesity-related biobehavioral responses in low-income Hispanic women: protocol of an intensive longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):253. Published 2019 Feb 28. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6583-x

Howe CG, Farzan SF, Garcia E, Bastain TM, et al. Arsenic and birth outcomes in a predominately lower income Hispanic pregnancy cohort in Los Angeles. Environ Res. 2020;184:109294. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109294

Bastain TM, Islam T, Berhane KT, et al. Exhaled nitric oxide, susceptibility and new-onset asthma in the Children's Health Study. Eur Respir J. 2011;37(3):523-531. doi:10.1183/09031936.00021210

Bastain TM, Gilliland FD, Li YF, Saxon A, Diaz-Sanchez D. Intraindividual reproducibility of nasal allergic responses to diesel exhaust particles indicates a susceptible phenotype. Clin Immunol. 2003;109(2):130-136. doi:10.1016/s1521-6616(03)00168-2