For the 15 years my research has focused on the role of nutrition in influencing maternal and infant health, survival, and function in the developing world. My interests include nutrient-nutrient interactions, such as those between iron and zinc, vitamin A and zinc, and vitamin A and iron. My research, carried out in Nepal, examined the impact of alternative combinations of micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy in reducing low birth weight and neonatal mortality. Recently, I was involved in two large community trials in Bangladesh of maternal vitamin A and beta-carotene supplementation and its impact on maternal mortality and the impact of newborn vitamin A supplementation on infant mortality. Currently, I am co-PI of a trial in Bangladesh, which aims to test the efficacy of maternal multiple micronutrient supplementation in improving infant survival. Within that study, I am also specifically interested in examining the influence of nutrients on materno-fetal-placental factors promoting fetal growth. I am also involved in prospective cohort studies to examine the long term impact of maternal micronutrient interventions on cognitive outcomes funded by NICHD (R01) and early biomarkers of chronic diseases in the children of the women who participated in the original trial who are now 6-8 y of age. I have recently completed studies of treatment of severe anemia in pregnant women and young children in Karachi, Pakistan.

micronutrients, nutrient interactions, maternal mortality, infant mortality, reproductive health, low birth weight, pregnancy, community trials, nutrition and cognition, developmental origins of health and disease, epidemiology, Open CourseWare,

2008 M. S. University of Baroda, Foods and Nutrition Department, India - Alumni Achievement Award

2004 Pollin Stipend for young investigator of $100,000

1997 Delta Omega Honor Society (Johns Hopkins)

1996 Harry D. Kruse Award

1996 Society for International Nutrition Research - Student Prize

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

Klemm R, Labrique AB, Christian P, Rashid M, Shamim AA, Katz J, Sommer A, West KP Jr. Impact of Newborn Vitamin A Supplementation on Infant Mortality to Six Months of Age: A Double-blind, Cluster-randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial in Rural Bangladesh. Pediatrics 2008; 120:e240-250.

Keith P. West Jr., Parul Christian. Antenatal micronutrients in undernourished people- Commentary. Lancet 2008; 371:452-453.

Rah JH, Christian P, Shamim AA, Ummeh AT, Labrique AB, Rashid M. Pregnancy and lactation hinder growth and nutritional status of adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh. J Nutr 2008; 138:1505-1511.

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.

Stewart CP, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Shrestha SR, West KP Jr. Christian P. Preterm delivery but not intrauterine growth retardation is associated with young maternal age in rural Nepal. Maternal and Child Nutrition 2007; 3:174-85.

Christian P, Katz J, Wu L, Pradhan EK, LeClerq SC, Khatry SK, West KP Jr. Risk factors for pregnancy-related mortality: A prospective study in rural Nepal. Public Health 2007, Sept (epub).

Dominici F, Zeger S, Parmigiani G, Katz J, Christian P. Does the effect of micronutrient supplementation on infant mortality vary with respect to the percentiles of the birth weight distribution? Bayesian Analysis 2007; 2:1-23.

Christian P, Shrihari SB, Thorne-Lyman A, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Shrestha SR. Eating down in pregnancy: Exploring food-related beliefs and practices of pregnancy in rural Nepal. Ecology of Food & Nutrition 2006; 45:253-278.

Christian P, Sommer A, West KP Jr. Reducing maternal mortality where rates are greatest. (letter). Lancet 2006; 368:2122-3.

Dominici F, Zeger SL, Parmigiani G, Katz J, Christian P. Estimating causal treatment effects specific to the post-treatment variable percentiles: A case study of micronutrient supplementation, birth weight and neonatal mortality. Applied Statistics 2006; 55 (Part 2):261-80.

Christian P, Jiang T, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Shrestha SR, West KP Jr. Antenatal micronutrient supplementation and biochemical indicators of status and sub-clinical infection in rural Nepal. Am J Clin Nutr 2006; 83:788-794.

Jiang T, Christian P, Khatry SK, Wu L, West KP Jr. Micronutrient deficiencies in early pregnancy are common, concurrent, and vary by season among rural Nepali women. J Nutr 2005; 135:1106-1112.

Christian P, Osrin D, Manandhar DS, Khatry SK, de L Costello AM, West KP Jr. Antenatal micronutrient supplements in Nepal. (letter) Lancet 2005; 366:711-712.

Christian P. Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Roess AA, Wu L, Yuenger JD, Zenilman JM. Prevalence and risk factors of chlamydia and gonorrhea among rural Nepali women. STI 2005; 81:254-258.

Freeman JV, Christian P, Khatry SK, Adhikari RK, LeClerq SC, Katz J, Darmstadt G. Evaluation of neonatal verbal autopsy using physician review versus algorithm-based cause-of-death assignment in rural Nepal. Paediatr Perinatal Epi 2005; 19:323-331.

Christian P, Khatry SK, West KP Jr. Antenatal anthelminthic therapy, birth weight and infant survival in rural Nepal. Lancet 2004; 364:981-983.

Christian P, West KP Jr., Katz J, Kimbrough-Pradhan E, LeClerq SC, Khatry SK Cigarette smoking during pregnancy in rural Nepal. Risk factors and effects of ß-carotene and vitamin A supplementation. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004; 58:204-211.