My research aims to reduce mortality and morbidity in under-served populations in the United States and abroad. The underlying discipline bases for this research are epidemiology and biostatistics. Areas of focus include (1) ophthalmic epidemiology and blindness prevention, (2) macro and micronutrient deficiencies, (3) interaction between nutrition and infection. In ophthalmology, areas of interest include the epidemiology of glaucoma, cataract, trachoma, refractive errors, and ocular trauma. In nutrition, areas of interest include community-based randomized trials to evaluate the impact of various micronutrient interventions on morbidity and mortality (vitamin A, iron, zinc).

Current projects include

1. A study to examine the impact of various micronutrient supplements in utero and early childhood on growth, nutritional status, cognition, hearing, physiologic function and early markers of chronic disease in children 6-22 years of age in rural Nepal.

2. A study to examine whether iron and/or zinc supplementation in utero and/or in early childhood (prior to age 3) has an impact on cognition at age 6-7 years in rural Nepal.

3. Randomized community trial in Bangladesh to assess the impact of maternal supplementation with multiple micronutrients on infant morbidity and mortality.

4. Step wedge trial to assess the impact of improving cook stoves to reduce indoor air pollution and respiratory infections in young children in rural Nepal.

4. A population-based survey of pediatric ocular disorders in Baltimore.

5. Multi-centered clinical trial of treatment for uveitis.

epidemiology, ophthalmology, biostatistics, community trials, blindness, visual impairment, glaucoma, cataract, trachoma, refractive error, ocular trauma, vitamin A, iron, zinc, micronutrients, adolescent pregnancy, reproductive health, Nepal, Bangladesh.

Delta Omega, 1993

Fellow, American College of Epidemiology, 1994 Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2002, 2005

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Fellow, 2009

American Academy of Ophthalmology Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Profession of Ophthalmology, 2009

West KP Jr, Sommer A, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Christian P, Klemm RDW. A central question not answered: Can newborn vitamin A reduce infant mortality in South Asia? BMJ 2009;338:b919.

Keay L, Lindsley K, Tielsch J, Katz J, Schein O. Routine preoperative medical testing for cataract surgery. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD007293, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007293.pub2.

Kordas K, Siegel EH, Olney DK, Katz J, Tielsch JM, Kariger PK, Khalfan SS, LeClerq SC, Khatry SK, Stoltzfus RJ. The effects of iron and/or zinc supplementation on maternal reports of sleep in infants from Nepal and Zanzibar. The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 2009;30(2):131-139.

Giordano L, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Hawes P, Tielsch JM. Prevalence of refractive error among preschool children in an American urban population: The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study. Ophthalmology 2009;116(4):739-746.

Falle T, Mullany LC, Thatte N, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Katz J, Tielsch JM. Traditional birth attendants’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Sarlahi district, Nepal. J Health Pop Nutr 2009;27(1):53-61.

Mullany LC, Darmstadt GL, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Adhikari RK, Tielsch JM. Umbilical cord infection and mortality among newborns of southern Nepal. Ped Infect Dis J 2009;28(1):17-20.

Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Shrestha SR, West, KP Jr., Christian P. Miscarriage but not stillbirth rates are higher among younger nulliparas in rural Southern Nepal. J Adolescent Health 2008; 42:587-95.

Tielsch JM, Klem R, West KP Jr, Katz J, Humphrey J, Christian P, Sommer A: Newborn vitamin A dosing and early infant survival: current evidence and controversy. Sight and Life 2008;2:22-26.

Coles CL, Sherchand JB, Khatry SK, Katz J, LeClerq SC, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM. Zinc modifies the association between nasopharyngeal S. pneumoniae carriage and risk of acute lower respiratory infection among young children in rural Nepal. J Nutr 2008;138:2462-7.

Scherer RW, Feldon SE, Levin L, Langenberg P, Katz J, Keyl PM, Wilson PD, Kelman SE, Dickerson K. Visual fields at follow-up in the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial: Evaluation of change in pattern defect and severity. Ophthalmology 2008;115:1809-17.

Friedman DS, Katz J, Repka MX, Ibironke J, Giordano L, Hawes P, Burkom D, Tielsch JM. Lack of concordance between fixation preference and visual acuity in children 30-71 months of age, the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study. Ophthalmology 2008;115:1796-9.

Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Giordano L, Hawes P, Burkom D, Tielsch JM. Prevalence of decreased visual acuity among pre-school children in an American urban population: The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study. Ophthalmology 2008;115:1786-95.

Sharma V, Katz J, Mullany LC, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM. Young Maternal Age and the Risk of Neonatal Mortality in Rural Nepal. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162:828-835.

Christian P, Darmstadt GL, Wu L, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Katz J, West KP Jr, Adhikari RK. The effect of maternal micronutrient supplementation on early neonatal morbidity in rural Nepal: a randomised, controlled, community trial. Arch Dis Child 2008;93:660-664.

Rhee V, Mullany LC, Khatry SK, Katz J, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM. Impact of maternal and birth attendant hand washing on neonatal mortality in Southern Nepal. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008;162:603-608.

Rosenberg RE, Ahmed S, Saha SK, Ahmed AS, Choudhury MA, Law PA, Choi Y, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Black RE, Santosham M, Darmstadt GL. Simplified age-weight mortality risk classification for very low birth weight infants in low-resource settings. J Pediatr 2008;153(4):519-524.

Klemm RDW, Labrique AB, Christian P, Rashid, M, Shamim AA, Katz J, Sommer A, West KP Jr. Impact of newborn vitamin A supplementation on six-month mortality: a cluster-randomized community trial in Bangladesh. Pediatrics 2008;122:e242-e250.

Mullany LC, Khatry SK, Sherchand JB, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Katz J, Gauchan P, Adhikari RK, Rana A, Tielsch JM. A randomized controlled trial of the impact of chlorhexidine skin cleansing on bacterial colonization of hospital-born infants in Nepal. Ped Infect Dis J 2008;27(6):505-511.

Lee AC, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Adhikari RK, Shrestha SR, Darmstadt GL. Verbal Autopsy Methods to Ascertain Birth Asphyxia Deaths in a Community-based Setting in Southern Nepal. Pediatrics 2008;121(5):e1372-1380.

Lee AC, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Adhikari R, Shrestha SR, Darmstadt GL. Risk factors for neonatal mortality due to birth asphyxia in southern Nepal: a prospective, community-based cohort study. Pediatrics 2008;121(5):e1381-1390.

Tielsch JM, Rahmathullah L, Katz J, Thulasiraj RD, Coles C, Sheeladevi S, Prakash K. Maternal night blindness during pregnancy is associated with low birthweight, morbidity, and poor growth in South India. J Nutr 2008;138:787-792.

Mullany LC, Katz J, Li YM, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM. Breastfeeding patterns, time to initiation, and neonatal mortality risk in southern Nepal. J Nutr 2008 Mar;138(3):599-603.

Broman A, Quigley H, West S, Katz J, Munoz B, Bandeen-Roche K, Tielsch J, Friedman D, Crowston J, Varma R, Taylor H, Leske C, Heijl A, He M, Foster P. Estimating the rate of progressive visual field damage in open angle glaucoma from population-based data. Inv Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2008;49:66-76.

Kordas K, Siegel EH, Olney DK, Katz J, Tielsch JM, Chwaya HM, Kariger PK, LeClerq SC, Khatry SK, Stoltzfus RJ. Maternal reports of sleep in 6-18 month-old infants from Nepal and Zanzibar: association with iron deficiency anemia and stunting. Early Human Development 2008;84:389-398.