Biography

Dr. Braun is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology in the Program in Public Health. He was formerly a nurse and went on to receive an MSPH and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Braun is broadly interested in studying environmental determinants of children's health, with a special interest in studying behavioral disorders like ADHD and autism. He is also interested in identifying modifiable sources of environmental chemical exposures.

Research Description

I study the role of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the development of sexually dimorphic behaviors and disorders. I am interested in determining if these chemicals increase the risk of disorders like ADHD, autism, and depression.

Exposure to chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) or phthalates is ubiquitous in developed countries and there is concern that these chemicals may disrupt sex steroid pathways. In addition, some chemicals may exert toxicity via epigenetic mechanisms. These changes may occur because EDCs disrupt the action or metabolism of endogenous hormones, which play an important role in genome regulation.

I am conducting research in three prospective birth cohorts from the US and Mexico to address several questions. 1) Does gestational exposure to BPA and phthalates alter the prenatal sex steroid milieu? 2) Does prenatal exposure to BPA and phthalates attenuate, eliminate, or exaggerate sexually dimorphic behaviors in children? 3) What are modifiable sources of BPA and phthalate exposure? 4) How does exposure variability impact our ability to study non-persistent compounds? 5) Does exposure to chemical mixtures affect child brain development?

Affiliations

The Endocrine Society
The International Society of Environmental Epidemiology

Funded Research

K99 ES020346 (J. Braun, PI)
July 2012-July 2014
Prenatal Sex Steroids, Bisphenol A, Phthalates, and Sexually Dimorphic Behaviors

Selected Publications

• Braun JM, Lucchini R, Bellinger D, Hoffman E, Nazzaro M, Smith DR, Wright RO. Predictors of virtual radial arm maze performance in adolescent Italian children. Neurotoxicology. In Press.(IN PRESS)
• Kalkbrenner AE, Braun JM, Durkin MS, Maenner MJ, Cunniff C, Lee LC, Pettygrove S, Nicholas JS, and Daniels JL. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders using data from the Autism and Develomental Disabilities Monitoring network. Environ Health Perspect. In Press.(IN PRESS)
• Braun JM, Smith KW, Williams PL, et al. Variability of Urinary Phthalate Metabolite and Bisphenol A Concentrations before and during Pregnancy. Environ Health Perspect. Jan 19 2012.(2012)
• Smith KW, Braun JM, Williams PL, Ehrlich, Berry K, Calafat, AM, Ye X, Ford J, Keller M, Meeker JD, and Hauser R. Predictors and variability of urinary paraben concentrations in men and women, including before and during pregnancy. Environ Health Perspect. 2012(2012)
• Braun JM, Hoffman E, Schwartz J, Sanchez B, Schnaas L, Mercado-Garcia A, Solano-Gonzalez M, Bellinger DC, Lanphear BP, Hu H, Tellez-Rojo MM, Wright RO, Hernandez-Avila M. Assessing windows of susceptibility to lead-induced cognitive deficits in Mexican children. Neurotoxicology. May 2012.(2012)
• Rauch SA, Braun JM, Barr DB, Calafat AM, Khoury J, Motesano JA, Yolton K, and Lanphear BP. Associations of prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticide metabolites with gestational age and birthweight. Environ Health Perspect. 2012(2012)
• Sathyanarayana S, Braun JM, Yolton K, Liddy S, Lanphear BP. A Case Study of High Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Infant Neonatal Neurobehavior. Environ Health Perspect. 2011;23(2): 233-9.(2011)
• Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, et al. Impact of early-life bisphenol a exposure on behavior and executive function in children. Pediatrics. Nov 2011;128(5):873-882(2011)
• Braun JM, Kalkbrenner AE, Calafat AM, et al. Variability and Predictors of Urinary Bisphenol Concentrations During Pregnancy. Environ Health Perspect. 2011;119(1):131-7.(2011)
• Anderko L, Braun JM, Auinger P. Contribution of Tobacco Smoke Exposure to Learning Disabilities. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2010;39(1):111-117.(2010)
• Kalkbrenner AE, Hornung RW, Bernert JT, Hammond SK, Braun JM, Lanphear BP. Determinants of serum cotinine and hair cotinine as biomarkers of childhood secondhand smoke exposure. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2010;20(7):615-24.(2010)
• Braun JM, Daniels JL, Poole C, et al. Prenatal Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Early Childhood BMI. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiolgy. 2010; 24(6):524-34.(2010)
• Braun J, Daniels J, Poole C, et al. A prospective cohort study of biomarkers of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure: The correlation between serum and meconium and their association with infant birth weight. Environmental Health. 2010;9:53(2010)
• Braun JM, Yolton K, Dietrich KN, et al. Prenatal bisphenol A exposure and early childhood behavior. Environ Health Perspect. Dec 2009;117(12):1945-1952.(2009)
• Braun JM, Daniels JL, Kalkbrenner A, Zimmerman J, Nicholas JS. The Effect of Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy on Intellectual Disabilities among 8-Year Old Children in Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Utah. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2009; 23(5): 482-491.(2009)
• Froehlich TE, Lanphear BP, Auinger P, Hornung R, Epstein JN, Braun J, Kahn RS. Association of tobacco and lead exposures with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics. 2009;124(6):e1054-1063.(2009)
• Baker AM, Braun JM, Salafia CM, et al. Risk factors for uteroplacental vascular compromise and inflammation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. Sep 2008;199(3):256 e251-259.(2008)
• Braun JM, Froehlich TE, Daniels JL, et al. Association of environmental toxicants and conduct disorder in U.S. children: NHANES 2001-2004. Environ Health Perspect. Jul 2008;116(7):956-962.(2008)
• Braun JM, Froehlich TF, Kahn RS, Auinger P, Lanphear BP. Exposures to environmental toxicants and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114 (12):1904-1909.(2006)