Tracy Bastain, PhD, MPH
Associate 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 maternal mental health and 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, 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 

Hernandez-Castro I., Eckel SP, Chavez T., Johnson M., Lerner D., Grubbs B., Toledo-Corral C., Farzan SF, Habre R., Dunton G, Breton CV, Bastain TM. Household Pesticide Exposures and Infant Gross Motor Development in the MADRES Cohort. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 29 December 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12850 PMID: 34964501, PMCID: PMC8881403. Press: https://pphs.usc.edu/household-pesticide-use-harms-infant-gross-motor-development-study-shows/ 

Bastain T.M., Chavez T., Habre R., Hernandez-Castro I., Grubbs B., Toledo-Corral C., Farzan, SF, Lurvey N., Lerner D., Eckel S., Lurmann F., Lagomasino I., Breton, CV. Prenatal Ambient Air Pollution and Maternal Depression at 12 months Postpartum in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort. Environmental Health. 20, 121 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-021-00807-x PMID: 34838014, PMCID: PMC8626870. Press: https://pphs.usc.edu/air-pollution-exposure-during-pregnancy-is-linked-with-greater-risk-of-depression-among-latinas/ 

Bastain T.M., Knapp E., Law A., Algermissen M., Avalos L., Birnhak Z., Blackwell C.K., Breton C., Frazier J., Ganiban J., Greenwood P., Hernandez-Castro I., Herbstman J., Karagas M., Lewis J., Pagliaccio D., Ramphal B., Saxbe D., Schmidt R., Velez-Vega C., Tang X., Hamra G., Margolis A. COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences and Symptoms of Pandemic-Associated Traumatic Stress Among Mothers in the US. JAMA Network Open, 2022;5(12):e2247330. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47330. Press: https://keck.usc.edu/dramatic-change-from-pandemic-brought-on-stress-for-mothers/ 

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. Press: https://www.newswise.com/articles/study-links-exhaled-nitric-oxide-with-increased-risk-of-childhood-asthma