Michael B. Bracken
PhD, MPH, FACE
Susan Dwight Bliss Professor Emeritus
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Research Summary
Professor Bracken has published some 400 articles and chapters, providing major contributions in the fields of perinatal epidemiolology, clinical trials and evidence–based medicine. His 1984 textbook, Perinatal Epidemiology, defined the field of perinatal epidemiology, predicting the role of fetal and early childhood illness on later chronic disease.
Bracken was involved in the discoveries of CFH polymorphism for age–related macular degeneration, the first study to successfully use genome–wide association methodologies and HapMap to identify a disease polymorphism. Professor Bracken is a founder of the evidence–based medicine paradigm. He co–edited one of the first evidence–based texts, Effective Care of the Newborn Infant, forming the basis for the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. In 2007, the British Medical Journal named the book one of the influential texts in evidence–based medicine.
Specialized Terms: Perinatal and pediatric epidemiology; Evidence-based health care and medicine
Extensive Research Description
The first randomized trials for evaluating therapies for acute spinal cord injury were designed and directed by Professor Bracken. He is a consultant for international corporations and government agencies and his government service includes NIH study sections and Council. He previously sat on the NIH Expert Panel on Genes Environment and Health.
- Identification of genetic polymorphisms that increase disease susceptibility and their interaction with lifestyle risk factors.
- Co-Founder and Co-Editor, Cochrane Neonatal Review Group, Cochrane Collaboration.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Epidemiology; Gynecology; Neurology; Pediatrics; Perinatal Care; Evidence-Based Medicine
Public Health Interests
Child/Adolescent Health; Pharmacoepidemiology
Selected Publications
- Lung Cancer-Related Mortality With Inhaled Insulin or a Comparator: Follow-Up Study of patients previously enrolled in Exubera Controlled Clinical Trials (FUSE) Final Results.Gatto NM, Koralek DO, Bracken MB, Duggan WT, Lem J, Klioze S, Koch GG, Wise RA, Cohen RB, Jackson NC. Lung Cancer-Related Mortality With Inhaled Insulin or a Comparator: Follow-Up Study of patients previously enrolled in Exubera Controlled Clinical Trials (FUSE) Final Results. Diabetes Care 2019, 42: 1708-1715. PMID: 31331907, DOI: 10.2337/dc18-2529.
- Random-Effects Assumption in Meta-analyses.Bracken MB. Random-Effects Assumption in Meta-analyses. JAMA 2019, 322: 81. PMID: 31265092, DOI: 10.1001/jama.2019.5443.
- Systematic review of efficacy and safety of retrievable inferior vena caval filters.Bikdeli B, Jiménez D, Kirtane AJ, Bracken MB, Spencer FA, Monreal M, Krumholz HM. Systematic review of efficacy and safety of retrievable inferior vena caval filters. Thrombosis Research 2018, 165: 79-82. PMID: 29579576, PMCID: PMC5943161, DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.03.014.
- A systematic evaluation of chemicals in hydraulic-fracturing fluids and wastewater for reproductive and developmental toxicity.Elliott EG, Ettinger AS, Leaderer BP, Bracken MB, Deziel NC. A systematic evaluation of chemicals in hydraulic-fracturing fluids and wastewater for reproductive and developmental toxicity. Journal Of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 2017, 27: 90-99. PMID: 26732376, DOI: 10.1038/jes.2015.81.
- Associations of Maternal Vitamin B12 Concentration in Pregnancy With the Risks of Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data.Rogne T, Tielemans MJ, Chong MF, Yajnik CS, Krishnaveni GV, Poston L, Jaddoe VW, Steegers EA, Joshi S, Chong YS, Godfrey KM, Yap F, Yahyaoui R, Thomas T, Hay G, Hogeveen M, Demir A, Saravanan P, Skovlund E, Martinussen MP, Jacobsen GW, Franco OH, Bracken MB, Risnes KR. Associations of Maternal Vitamin B12 Concentration in Pregnancy With the Risks of Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data. American Journal Of Epidemiology 2017, 185: 212-223. PMID: 28108470, PMCID: PMC5390862, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kww212.
- Meta-analysis requires independent observations and freedom from bias.Bracken MB. Meta-analysis requires independent observations and freedom from bias. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology 2016, 81: 1191-3. PMID: 26845509, PMCID: PMC4876173, DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12898.
- Particulate air pollution, fetal growth and gestational length: The influence of residential mobility in pregnancy.Pereira G, Bracken MB, Bell ML. Particulate air pollution, fetal growth and gestational length: The influence of residential mobility in pregnancy. Environmental Research 2016, 147: 269-74. PMID: 26918840, PMCID: PMC4821760, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.02.001.
- Fine Particulates, Preterm Birth, and Membrane Rupture in Rochester, NY.Pereira G, Evans KA, Rich DQ, Bracken MB, Bell ML. Fine Particulates, Preterm Birth, and Membrane Rupture in Rochester, NY. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) 2016, 27: 66-73. PMID: 26247489, DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000366.
- Response.Playdon MC, Bracken MB, Sanft TB, Ligibel JA, Harrigan M, Irwin ML. Response. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2016, 108 PMID: 26933009, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djw024.
- The Impact of Infectious Disease Specialist Consultation for Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections: A Systematic Review.Paulsen J, Solligård E, Damås JK, DeWan A, Åsvold BO, Bracken MB. The Impact of Infectious Disease Specialist Consultation for Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections: A Systematic Review. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2016, 3: ofw048. PMID: 27047985, PMCID: PMC4817315, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofw048.
- Hyperglycaemia in infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is associated with improved outcomes after therapeutic hypothermia: a post hoc analysis of the CoolCap Study.Basu SK, Salemi JL, Gunn AJ, Kaiser JR; CoolCap Study Group. Hyperglycaemia in infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is associated with improved outcomes after therapeutic hypothermia: a post hoc analysis of the CoolCap Study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2016 Oct 31. pii: fetalneonatal-2016-311385. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311385. [Epub ahead of print]
- Premature Adult Death in Individuals Born Preterm: A Sibling Comparison in a Prospective Nationwide Follow-Up Study.Risnes KR, Pape K, Bjørngaard JH, Moster D, Bracken MB, Romundstad PR. Premature Adult Death in Individuals Born Preterm: A Sibling Comparison in a Prospective Nationwide Follow-Up Study. PloS One 2016, 11: e0165051. PMID: 27820819, PMCID: PMC5098830, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165051.
- Call to improve transparency of trials of non-regulated interventions.Dal-Ré R, Bracken MB, Ioannidis JP. Call to improve transparency of trials of non-regulated interventions. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) 2015, 350: h1323. PMID: 25820265, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h1323.
- Confronting the missing epistasis problem: on the reproducibility of gene-gene interactions.Murk W, Bracken MB, DeWan AT. Confronting the missing epistasis problem: on the reproducibility of gene-gene interactions. Human Genetics 2015, 134: 837-49. PMID: 25998948, DOI: 10.1007/s00439-015-1564-3.
- Folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia, small for gestational age offspring and preterm delivery.Martinussen MP, Bracken MB, Triche EW, Jacobsen GW, Risnes KR. Folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia, small for gestational age offspring and preterm delivery. European Journal Of Obstetrics, Gynecology, And Reproductive Biology 2015, 195: 94-9. PMID: 26500184, PMCID: PMC4684439, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.09.022.
- Weight Gain After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and All-Cause Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Playdon MC, Bracken MB, Sanft TB, Ligibel JA, Harrigan M, Irwin ML. Weight Gain After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and All-Cause Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2015, 107: djv275. PMID: 26424778, PMCID: PMC4715249, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djv275.
- Low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol consumption and the risk of selected birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study.Lundsberg LS, Illuzzi JL, Belanger K, Triche EW, Bracken MB. Low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol consumption and the risk of selected birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study. Annals Of Epidemiology 2015, 25: 46-54.e3. PMID: 25453352, PMCID: PMC4255148, DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.10.011.
- Potential confounding still clouds the possible association of maternal caffeine intake and low birth weight.Bracken MB. Potential confounding still clouds the possible association of maternal caffeine intake and low birth weight. Evidence-based Medicine 2015, 20: 37. PMID: 25525041, DOI: 10.1136/ebmed-2014-110116.
- Asthma medication use during pregnancy, wheeze and estimated exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide.Gent JF, Kezik JM, Hill ME, McKay LA, Holford TR, Leaderer BP, Bracken MB. Asthma medication use during pregnancy, wheeze and estimated exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide. The European Respiratory Journal 2015, 45: 538-40. PMID: 25537555, PMCID: PMC4331059, DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00161514.
- Case-control studies require appropriate population controls: an example of error in the SSRI birth defect literature.Bracken MB. Case-control studies require appropriate population controls: an example of error in the SSRI birth defect literature. European Journal Of Epidemiology 2015, 30: 1217-8. PMID: 26518772, DOI: 10.1007/s10654-015-0097-3.
- Longitudinal associations between asthma and general and abdominal weight status among Norwegian adolescents and young adults: the HUNT Study.Egan KB, Ettinger AS, DeWan AT, Holford TR, Holmen TL, Bracken MB. Longitudinal associations between asthma and general and abdominal weight status among Norwegian adolescents and young adults: the HUNT Study. Pediatric Obesity 2015, 10: 345-52. PMID: 25405952, DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.271.
- Chemotherapy-only treatment effects on long-term neurocognitive functioning in childhood ALL survivors: a review and meta-analysis.Iyer NS, Balsamo LM, Bracken MB, Kadan-Lottick NS. Chemotherapy-only treatment effects on long-term neurocognitive functioning in childhood ALL survivors: a review and meta-analysis. Blood 2015, 126: 346-53. PMID: 26048910, DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-02-627414.
- The association of indoor tanning and melanoma in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis.Colantonio S, Bracken MB, Beecker J. The association of indoor tanning and melanoma in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal Of The American Academy Of Dermatology 2014, 70: 847-57.e1-18. PMID: 24629998, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.11.050.
- Is animal research sufficiently evidence based to be a cornerstone of biomedical research?Pound P, Bracken MB. Is animal research sufficiently evidence based to be a cornerstone of biomedical research? BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) 2014, 348: g3387. PMID: 24879816, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g3387.
- How to increase value and reduce waste when research priorities are set.Chalmers I, Bracken MB, Djulbegovic B, Garattini S, Grant J, Gülmezoglu AM, Howells DW, Ioannidis JP, Oliver S. How to increase value and reduce waste when research priorities are set. Lancet 2014, 383: 156-65. PMID: 24411644, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62229-1.
- Re-analysis of the PREGNANT trial confirms that vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of preterm birth in women with a sonographic short cervix.McKay LA, Holford TR, Bracken MB. Re-analysis of the PREGNANT trial confirms that vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of preterm birth in women with a sonographic short cervix. Ultrasound In Obstetrics & Gynecology : The Official Journal Of The International Society Of Ultrasound In Obstetrics And Gynecology 2014, 43: 596-7. PMID: 24585456, DOI: 10.1002/uog.13331.
- Relationship of preinjury depressive symptoms to outcomes 3 mos after complicated and uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury.Kumar RG, Bracken MB, Clark AN, Nick TG, Melguizo MS, Sander AM. Relationship of preinjury depressive symptoms to outcomes 3 mos after complicated and uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury. American Journal Of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation / Association Of Academic Physiatrists 2014, 93: 687-702. PMID: 24743469, DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000077.
- General, but not abdominal, overweight increases odds of asthma among Norwegian adolescents: the Young-HUNT study.Egan KB, Ettinger AS, DeWan AT, Holford TR, Holmen TL, Bracken MB. General, but not abdominal, overweight increases odds of asthma among Norwegian adolescents: the Young-HUNT study. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 2014, 103: 1270-6. PMID: 25131148, DOI: 10.1111/apa.12775.
- Making prospective registration of observational research a reality.Dal-Ré R, Ioannidis JP, Bracken MB, Buffler PA, Chan AW, Franco EL, La Vecchia C, Weiderpass E. Making prospective registration of observational research a reality. Science Translational Medicine 2014, 6: 224cm1. PMID: 24553383, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3007513.
- Epidemiology as a liberal art: from graduate school to middle school, an unfulfilled agenda.Bracken MB. Epidemiology as a liberal art: from graduate school to middle school, an unfulfilled agenda. Annals Of Epidemiology 2014, 24: 171-3. PMID: 24530409, DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.11.010.
- Risk, Chance and Causation: Investigating the Origins and Treatment of DiseaseBracken MB. Risk, Chance and Causation: Investigating the Origins and Treatment of Disease. New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 2013. (The American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence PROSE 2013, Honorable Mention; CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title for 2013 in the Health Sciences Category.)
- Genome-wide association study of pre-eclampsia detects novel maternal single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy-number variants in subsets of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study cohort.Zhao L, Bracken MB, DeWan AT. Genome-wide association study of pre-eclampsia detects novel maternal single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy-number variants in subsets of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study cohort. Annals Of Human Genetics 2013, 77: 277-87. PMID: 23551011, PMCID: PMC3740040, DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12021.
- Response to Professor Olsen's commentary on 'random sampling - is it worth it?'.Bracken MB, Hertz-Picciotto I, Elliott MR, Dudley DJ, Buka S, Robbins JM, Paneth N. Response to Professor Olsen's commentary on 'random sampling - is it worth it?'. Paediatric And Perinatal Epidemiology 2013, 27: 29-30. PMID: 23215708, DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12019.
- New models for large prospective studies: is there a risk of throwing out the baby with the bathwater?Bracken MB, Baker D, Cauley JA, Chambers C, Culhane J, Dabelea D, Dearborn D, Drews-Botsch CD, Dudley DJ, Durkin M, Entwisle B, Flick L, Hale D, Holl J, Hovell M, Hudak M, Paneth N, Specker B, Wilhelm M, Wyatt S. New models for large prospective studies: is there a risk of throwing out the baby with the bathwater? American Journal Of Epidemiology 2013, 177: 285-9. PMID: 23296354, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kws408.
- Implementing provider-based sampling for the National Children's Study: opportunities and challenges.Belanger K, Buka S, Cherry DC, Dudley DJ, Elliott MR, Hale DE, Hertz-Picciotto I, Illuzzi JL, Paneth N, Robbins JM, Triche EW, Bracken MB. Implementing provider-based sampling for the National Children's Study: opportunities and challenges. Paediatric And Perinatal Epidemiology 2013, 27: 20-6. PMID: 23215706, DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12005.
- The role of epidemiology in the era of molecular epidemiology and genomics: Summary of the 2013 AJE-sponsored Society of Epidemiologic Research Symposium.Kuller LH, Bracken MB, Ogino S, Prentice RL, Tracy RP. The role of epidemiology in the era of molecular epidemiology and genomics: Summary of the 2013 AJE-sponsored Society of Epidemiologic Research Symposium. American Journal Of Epidemiology 2013, 178: 1350-4. PMID: 24105654, PMCID: PMC3988450, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwt239.
- Childhood body mass index and subsequent physician-diagnosed asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Egan KB, Ettinger AS, Bracken MB. Childhood body mass index and subsequent physician-diagnosed asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMC Pediatrics 2013, 13: 121. PMID: 23941287, PMCID: PMC3751452, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-121.
- Association between the SERPINE1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G insertion/deletion promoter polymorphism (rs1799889) and pre-eclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Zhao L, Bracken MB, Dewan AT, Chen S. Association between the SERPINE1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G insertion/deletion promoter polymorphism (rs1799889) and pre-eclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Molecular Human Reproduction 2013, 19: 136-43. PMID: 23180602, DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gas056.
- Maternal infection in pregnancy and risk of asthma in offspring.Collier CH, Risnes K, Norwitz ER, Bracken MB, Illuzzi JL. Maternal infection in pregnancy and risk of asthma in offspring. Maternal And Child Health Journal 2013, 17: 1940-50. PMID: 23338127, DOI: 10.1007/s10995-013-1220-2.
- Birthweight and mortality in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Risnes KR, Vatten LJ, Baker JL, Jameson K, Sovio U, Kajantie E, Osler M, Morley R, Jokela M, Painter RC, Sundh V, Jacobsen GW, Eriksson JG, Sørensen TI, Bracken MB. Birthweight and mortality in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal Of Epidemiology 2011, 40: 647-61. PMID: 21324938, DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyq267.
- PDE11A associations with asthma: results of a genome-wide association scan.DeWan AT, Triche EW, Xu X, Hsu LI, Zhao C, Belanger K, Hellenbrand K, Willis-Owen SA, Moffatt M, Cookson WO, Himes BE, Weiss ST, Gauderman WJ, Baurley JW, Gilliland F, Wilk JB, O'Connor GT, Strachan DP, Hoh J, Bracken MB. PDE11A associations with asthma: results of a genome-wide association scan. The Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology 2010, 126: 871-873.e9. PMID: 20920776, PMCID: PMC3133448, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.06.051.
- Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related macular degeneration.Klein RJ, Zeiss C, Chew EY, Tsai JY, Sackler RS, Haynes C, Henning AK, SanGiovanni JP, Mane SM, Mayne ST, Bracken MB, Ferris FL, Ott J, Barnstable C, Hoh J. Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related macular degeneration. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2005, 308: 385-9. PMID: 15761122, PMCID: PMC1512523, DOI: 10.1126/science.1109557.
- Administration of methylprednisolone for 24 or 48 hours or tirilazad mesylate for 48 hours in the treatment of acute spinal cord injury. Results of the Third National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Randomized Controlled Trial. National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study.Bracken MB, Shepard MJ, Holford TR, Leo-Summers L, Aldrich EF, Fazl M, Fehlings M, Herr DL, Hitchon PW, Marshall LF, Nockels RP, Pascale V, Perot PL, Piepmeier J, Sonntag VK, Wagner F, Wilberger JE, Winn HR, Young W. Administration of methylprednisolone for 24 or 48 hours or tirilazad mesylate for 48 hours in the treatment of acute spinal cord injury. Results of the Third National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Randomized Controlled Trial. National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study. JAMA 1997, 277: 1597-604. PMID: 9168289.
- A randomized, controlled trial of methylprednisolone or naloxone in the treatment of acute spinal-cord injury. Results of the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study.Bracken MB, Shepard MJ, Collins WF, Holford TR, Young W, Baskin DS, Eisenberg HM, Flamm E, Leo-Summers L, Maroon J. A randomized, controlled trial of methylprednisolone or naloxone in the treatment of acute spinal-cord injury. Results of the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study. The New England Journal Of Medicine 1990, 322: 1405-11. PMID: 2278545, DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199005173222001.