About

Dr. Christina Chambers is a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, and serves as Vice Chair of Clinical Research for the Department of Pediatrics at UCSD and Rady Children's Hospital. She is a perinatal epidemiologist whose research focuses on environmental exposures and their impact on pregnancy and child health outcomes, including birth defects. Dr. Chambers co-directs the Center for Better Beginnings at UCSD and is the Program Director of MotherToBabyCalifornia, providing evidence-based information on exposures during pregnancy and lactation to the public and healthcare providers. She is also the founder and Program Director of Mommy’s Milk, a nationwide human milk biorepository for research, and directs the UCSD ACTRI Center for Life Course and Vulnerable Populations Research, which brings together multidisciplinary researchers to address study questions across the lifespan and in vulnerable populations. Her research over the past 20 years has been instrumental in identifying previously unrecognized human teratogens and in ruling out substantial risks for other prenatal exposures, with a focus on substances such as recreational drugs, medications, alcohol, and vaccines, and their effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes and pregnancy.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Obstetrics
• Clinical psychology
• Gynecology
• Virology
• Anesthesia
• Physical therapy
• Pediatrics
• Pathology
• Family medicine
• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapist
• Psychology

Selected publications

• Medications for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and the Risks for Adverse Birth Outcomes

  Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety · 2026-04-01

  articleSenior author

  PURPOSE: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is common during pregnancy. However, evidence on the safety of its treatment is still conflicting. This study compared the risk for adverse birth outcomes between mothers exposed to NVP medications and unmedicated mothers, with and without NVP. METHODS: This prospective, observational cohort study is part of the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies initiative, which recruits participants during pregnancy and collects data through maternal telephone interviews and medical records. The study includes live-born singleton pregnancies enrolled from 2010 to 2023, with available first-trimester NVP symptom data. Pregnant women exposed to any NVP medications were compared to pregnant women with untreated NVP and pregnant women without NVP. Statistical analysis involved calculating risk ratios (RR) for major congenital malformations, preterm delivery, small for gestational age (SGA), and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). RESULTS: This study included 2711 pregnant individuals, categorized into NVP treatment exposed (n = 603; mean [SD] age, 33.2 [4.3] years), untreated NVP (n = 1567; mean [SD] age, 33.3 [4.4] years), and no NVP (n = 541; mean [SD] age, 33.4 [4.4] years). Major congenital malformations occurred in 6.12% (n = 29) of the NVP treatment exposed group, 5.11% (n = 80) of the untreated NVP group, and 5.55% (n = 30) of the no NVP group, with adjusted RR for treatment exposed 1.22 (95% CI, 0.79-1.87) compared to untreated NVP and 1.05 (95% CI, 0.63-1.76) compared to no NVP. The adjusted RR of preterm birth was 1.21 (95% CI, 0.88-1.67) for treatment exposed compared to untreated NVP. The adjusted RR of infants being SGA was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.90-1.74) compared to untreated NVP. Doxylamine (n = 345 [57.21%]) and ondansetron (n = 286 [47.43%]) were the most commonly used NVP treatments. When the risks for adverse birth outcomes were evaluated separately for these medications, ondansetron exposure was associated with higher RRs for SGA compared with both untreated NVP (adjusted RR 1.80, 95% CI 1.23-2.60) and no NVP (1.99, 95% CI 1.22-3.24). The confidence intervals indicate that the estimates are relatively imprecise but suggest an increased risk in both comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: No increased risks of major congenital malformations or other adverse birth outcomes were observed when comparing women treated with NVP medications to those with untreated NVP or no NVP, in overall comparisons, supporting the pharmacological treatment of NVP when needed. Ondansetron exposure was associated with an increased risk of SGA, which may at least partially be influenced by greater NVP severity among ondansetron-treated women rather than treatment effect itself.

  PublisherDOI

• Quality time in quarantine: Buffering effects of family time on <scp>COVID</scp> ‐19 outcomes

  Family Relations · 2026-02-05

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Objective This study examined the impact of quality time spent with family in modifying the relationship between various negative home and social consequences of the pandemic and subsequent social and behavioral outcomes. Background Adverse consequences related to economic, health, and social factors were brought about by the COVID‐19 pandemic. In other contexts, family protective factors and resiliency have been found to mitigate similar adverse circumstances. Method This mixed‐method study included participants across five states ( N = 67). Quantitative methods included survey data on individual and family experiences related to work and education, home and social circumstances, and physical and emotional health. Qualitative measures included individual interviews to better understand familial experiences during the pandemic. Results Relationships between negative home life experiences and consequences of the pandemic and subsequent negative outcomes were found to be altered as levels of quality time spent with family and children increased. These results were replicated through robust qualitative data, which told the stories of families using quality time to support positive outcomes. Conclusion Findings suggest that quality time spent with family can be a point of emphasis for mitigating adverse social and health outcomes. Implications Quality time may serve as a low‐cost, accessible relational strategy that can be intentionally emphasized in prevention, intervention, and public health messaging to strengthen family resilience during periods of prolonged adversity.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cognitive Outcomes of Children Exposed to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Through Breast Milk

  JAMA Network Open · 2025-11-21

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Importance: The cognitive performance of children prenatally exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has in some studies been shown to be reduced compared with that of unexposed children, potentially by factors associated with the underlying maternal disorder. However, cognitive performance following exposure to SSRIs through breastfeeding has not been previously studied. Objective: To determine whether the cognitive performance of children exposed to SSRIs both during pregnancy and breastfeeding differs from that of children with SSRI exposure limited to pregnancy. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study included the offspring of pregnant women enrolled in the MotherToBaby California cohort from May 8, 1989, to April 14, 2008. Children whose mothers were treated with SSRIs during pregnancy completed neurodevelopmental testing at 4 to 5 years of age (April 30, 1996, to August 12, 2012). Data were analyzed from January 10 to May 16, 2025. Exposures: Children exposed to SSRIs during breastfeeding were compared with breastfed children not exposed to SSRIs during breastfeeding and nonbreastfed children. Main Outcomes and Measures: Full-scale, verbal, and performance IQ were measured with the Wechsler Scales of Preschool and Primary Intelligence and compared using analysis of covariance adjusted for child sex, prematurity, and age at testing. Results: The sample included 97 mother-child dyads. Of the 97 children, 52 (53.6%) were female and 45 (46.4%) were male, with a mean (SD) age at testing of 4.9 (0.7) years. Of these, 22 children (22.7%) were exposed to SSRIs during breastfeeding; 37 (38.1%) were breastfed without SSRI exposure; and 38 (39.2%) were not breastfed. There were no significant differences in any adjusted mean IQ scores between breastfed children with and without postnatal SSRI exposure. Compared with nonbreastfed children, breastfed children exposed to SSRIs postnatally had significantly higher adjusted mean full-scale IQ scores (109.4 [95% CI, 104.5-114.4] vs 103.1 [95% CI, 99.3-106.9]; P = .046) and performance IQ scores (112.3 [95% CI, 106.7-118.0] vs 104.2 [95% CI, 99.9-108.5]; P = .03), but these differences were no longer significant after adjustment for factors related to the maternal mood during pregnancy. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study including children prenatally exposed to SSRIs, additional exposure to SSRIs through breastfeeding was not associated with reduced IQ scores. Although measures of performance other than IQ were not evaluated, these findings suggest that breastfeeding can be encouraged during treatment with SSRIs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Maternal beliefs and asthma medication adherence during pregnancy

  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Global · 2025-10-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Background: Maintaining optimal control of asthma during pregnancy is critical, as poorly controlled asthma is associated with negative health implications for both mother and baby. However, asthma medications are frequently discontinued by patients during pregnancy. Objective: This study aimed to examine maternal beliefs, maternal characteristics, and infant birth outcomes associated with asthma medication nonadherence during pregnancy. Methods: test, chi-square test, or Fisher exact test, we compared maternal characteristics and beliefs about asthma medications between those survey respondents with more reported adherence and those survey respondents with less reported adherence. Additionally, we used logistic regression with adjustment for select covariates to compare birth outcomes between those survey participants with more and those participants with less adherence. Results: = .021). Less adherence was not associated with preterm delivery (odds ratio [OR] = 0.54 [95% CI = 0.12-2.38]), small for gestational age from the standpoint of birth weight (adjusted OR = 0.31 [95% CI = 0.06-1.76]), or small for gestational age from the standpoint of birth length (adjusted OR = 0.45 [95% CI = 0.05-4.43]). Conclusion: Although we did not find an association between any maternal characteristics and asthma adherence, concerns about the safety and efficacy of asthma medication were significantly associated with asthma medication adherence.

  PublisherDOI

• Identifying missed prevention opportunities: maternal and congenital syphilis in hospital records and birth certificates in California from 2011 to 2021

  Journal of Perinatology · 2025-10-27

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Birth Outcomes in Women Who Have Taken Vedolizumab in Pregnancy: Results From the Vedolizumab Pregnancy Exposure Registry

  The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2025-06-11 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVES: There are limited data on the safety of vedolizumab in pregnancy for the treatment of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Between 2015 and 2022, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists conducted a prospective, observational pregnancy registry study with 275 pregnant women residing in the United States or Canada. METHODS: Women were enrolled in 1 of 3 cohorts: vedolizumab-exposed (N = 99); disease-matched unexposed to vedolizumab, but treated with another biologic in pregnancy (N = 76); or unexposed with no chronic health conditions (N = 100). Women and their infants were followed up to 1 year postpartum with maternal interviews, questionnaires, medical records abstraction, and a subset of infants who received a physical examination. Study outcomes were major structural birth defects, minor birth defects, pregnancy loss, preterm delivery, prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, serious or opportunistic infections, malignancies, and developmental milestones. RESULTS: In the overall registry, 17 of 275 pregnancies (6.2%) were lost to follow-up. Among pregnancies ending in at least 1 live born infant, 7 of 94 (7.4%) in the vedolizumab-exposed cohort compared with 4 of 71 (5.6%) in the disease-matched cohort had a major birth defect (adjusted risk ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33, 3.52). Compared with the disease-matched cohort, women in the vedolizumab-exposed group were not statistically significantly more likely to experience spontaneous abortion (adjusted hazard ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.17, 5.89). Women in the vedolizumab-exposed group were slightly but not significantly more likely to deliver preterm (adjusted hazard ratio 1.58, 95% CI 0.65, 3.82). CONCLUSIONS: No significant increased risks were noted with vedolizumab exposure for any of the other study outcomes. These data add reassuring evidence in support of the safety of vedolizumab in pregnancy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The VAMPSS System and the Future of Maternal Health

  The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice · 2025-10-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Endometriosis and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Dual-Cohort Study of Over 4 Million California Births

  Research Square · 2025-09-17 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Genome x Environment analysis of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death unveils etiologic heterogeneity and strong cannabis and genetic disease risks

  medRxiv · 2025-11-28

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), the third leading cause of infant death, has increasing incidence and multifactorial etiology. Identification of preventative interventions has hitherto been hindered by etiologic studies limited to genetic or environmental effects in isolation. Here we report a multifactorial genome x environment analysis of SUID risk. Births in San Diego County California from 2005-2018 were linked to hospital discharge summaries and death files, yielding 212 SUID cases and 620,392 infants alive at age 1 year. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) identified probable and possible genetic etiologies in 16% and 48% of SUID cases, respectively. Genetic risks were extremely heterogeneous with 144 loci contributing 173 risks in 57% of SUID cases. Genetic risk was very strong (Prevalence Risk Ratio, PRR >99) or strong (PRR 3.7 - 99) in 12% and 34% of SUID cases, respectively. Six of sixteen significant environmental risks lost significance when SUID cases without strong or very strong genetic risk were compared with infants alive at age 1 year, while SUID risk associated with prenatal cannabis increased from adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.7 to 6.0, other substance abuse from aHR 2.6 to 3.5, and black race from aHR 1.9 to 2.5. Thus, genome x environment analysis of a large cohort unveiled etiologic heterogeneity and hidden SUID risks, highlighting cannabis and genetic diseases as strong risk factors. Since preventative or therapeutic interventions were available for 83% of genetic risks, newborn screening by WGS has potential for substantial SUID reduction. Educational campaigns for SUID should emphasize perinatal cannabis avoidance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Adverse birth outcomes in alcohol-exposed pregnancies with or without tobacco and cannabis

  Preventive Medicine · 2025-10-06 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Optimization of Antibiotics in Mothers and their Breastfed Infants Using Pharmacomicrobiomic and Metabolomic Analyses

  NIH · $24.1M · 2021–2026

• Genomic and Environmental Determinants of Infant Deaths in San Diego County in 2015-2022

  NIH · $3.5M · 2020–2026

• 4/6 Planning for the HEALthy Early Development Study

  NIH · $917k · 2019–2022

• Whole Body Effects of PAE Across the Life Span: Early Markers of & Clinical Interventions for Children and Adolescents in Ukraine

  NIH · $1.6M · 2022–2027

• NIH Grant R01AA021551

  NIH · $953k · 2017

Frequent coauthors

• Kenneth Lyons Jones

  University of California, San Diego

  204 shared

• Rebecca J. Baer

  University of California, San Diego

  167 shared

• Gretchen Bandoli

  University of California, San Diego

  148 shared

• Martha M. Werler

  Boston University

  128 shared

• William Slikker

  National Center for Toxicological Research

  121 shared

• Anthony R. Scialli

  Foundation for Reproductive Medicine

  113 shared

• Jan M. Friedman

  112 shared

• Thomas B. Knudsen

  Research Triangle Park Foundation

  109 shared

Education

• M.D.

  University of California, San Diego

• B.S.

  University of California, San Diego

Awards & honors

• Mentor Honor, Junior Faculty Development Program
• 16th Annual Women Who Mean Business Awards
• F. Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award
• Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Scholar Me…
• Rady Children’s Hospital Award for Excellence in Research