OB/GYN EPIDEMIOLOGY CENTER
Daniel W. Cramer, MD, ScD, Director
Karin B. Michels, ScD, PhD, Co-Director
Kathryn L. Terry, ScD
Bin Ye, PhD, Laboratory Director
MISSION
To conduct epidemiologic research of high quality that will lead to improvement in women's
health and to educate students and clinical faculty about epidemiologic methods that will
broaden their training.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN AY 2008-2009
Our faculty submitted 70 grants.
 Dr. Cramer had a plenary presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research
dealing with ovarian cancer biomarkers. The presentation described the application of about
24 different markers in pre-diagnostic specimens from the Prostate, Lung, Colon and Ovarian
Cancer Screening Trial and revealed the markers with the best performance include Ca125,
HE4, and Ca72.4.
 Dr. Michels continues her successful birth cohort on the labor floor with over 1600 samples
of cord blood and placenta collected. She is currently using these samples to study predictors
of imprinting in her epigenetics lab. Dr. Michels also published a number of manuscripts on
breast cancer and on the developmental origins of chronic disease.
 Dr. Terry completed her analysis of IGF single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes in
relation to ovarian cancer risk. In addition, she has evaluated genetic variation in the
CYP11A1 and StAR genes in relation to endometrial cancer risk. Finally, she was recently
selected as an Associate BIRCWH Scholar.
 Dr. Bin Ye continues his research on Ginkgo biloba and ovarian cancer.
Over the course of this academic year, 32 manuscripts, chapters and editorials were published
by or with the assistance of faculty from the Center.
 Dr. Cramer co-authored 11 papers related to epidemiology and genetic markers for ovarian
cancer.
 Dr. Michels authored or co-authored 21 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals on the
developmental origin of chronic disease, breast cancer and diet assessment methods and a
book chapter on hormone replacement therapy.
 Dr. Terry co-authored eight scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals on genetic
susceptibility to ovarian cancer. Three were through work with a large international
collaboration involving 17 study sites. She has two first author manuscripts currently under
review regarding the role of reproductive characteristics in uterine leiomyoma risk and IGF
genes in ovarian cancer risk.
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ONGOING PROJECTS
 Dr. Cramer continues to explore the potential value of anti-MUC1 antibodies as a risk
biomarker and potential explanation for a number of ovarian cancer risk factors.

Dr. Michels focuses on her epigenetic epidemiology work and is establishing methylation
arrays and imprinting methods in her lab to examine epigenetic control of gene expression in
utero. She continues to work on analyses of body weight and premenopausal breast cancer
and early life risk factors for female cancers.
 Dr. Terry is assessing the role of telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes and genetic
variation in telomere-related genes in ovarian cancer survival. She continues her work on
genetic susceptibility to ovarian and endometrial cancer by evaluating polymorphisms in
IGF genes MTHFR, CYP11A1 and StAR.
TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP
 Dr. Michels teaches her popular courses at the Harvard Faculty for Arts and Sciences
(Medical Detectives), Harvard College (You Are What You Eat) and Harvard Extension
School (Introduction to Epidemiology) and lectures on study design, analysis and
interpretation for the OB/GYN residents.
 Dr. Terry continues leadership of the Epidemiologic Research in Obstetrics and
Gynecology course at the Harvard School of Public Health with Drs. Cramer and Michels
and lectures on meta-analyses and survival analyses for the OB/GYN residents.
GOALS FOR AY 2009-2010
 Continue data analyses on the etiology and early detection of ovarian cancer, predictors of in
vitro fertilization (IVF) success and risk factors for breast cancer including induced abortion,
obesity and menstrual cycle characteristics.
 Assist faculty, fellows, residents and HSPH students with ongoing and new studies.
 Preparation of new and competing continuation applications.
 Dr. Cramer: Continued funding of long term Case-Control Study of Ovarian Cancer and his
Ovarian Cancer SPORE and preparing for an External Advisor Committee meeting for the
DFCI/HCC SPORE.
 Dr. Michels: Expanding the lab and establishing new techniques including methylation
microarrays and assessment of loss of imprinting in utero.
 Dr. Terry: Obtain funding for pilot study of immune-related exposures and endometrial
cancer risk as well as new ovarian cancer analyses.