Catherine Schaefer, PhD

Catherine Schaefer, PhD Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3400 (phone)
cathy.schaefer@kp.org

Catherine Schaefer, PhD, has been a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research since 1989. Dr. Schaefer trained as an epidemiologist at the University of California, Berkeley, and she received postdoctoral training in psychiatric epidemiology at Yale University. Dr. Schaefer’s primary research interests include the epidemiology of psychiatric and neurologic disorders, early antecedents of adult chronic disease, and genetic epidemiology. In collaboration with others at the Division of Research, and scientists at local universities, Dr. Schaefer is heading the effort to develop an applied genetic epidemiology program at the Division of Research. The program will serve as a resource for new research focused on the genetic epidemiology and pharmacogenetics of many diseases.

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist II, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Primary Research Interests:

Epidemiology of psychiatric and neurologic disorders
Early antecedents of adult chronic disease
Genetic epidemiology

Related Web sites

Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health

The Identification of Risk Factors for the Complex MS Phenotype

The principal goals of this study are to identify genetic and nongenetic risk factors for occurrence of MS and MS progression through whole genome scans of our previously collected and assessed MS case-control study population.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

A Resource for Genetic Epidemiology Research in Adult Health and Aging

A Resource for Genetic Epidemiology Research in Adult Health and Aging
Funder: Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

The Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health (RPGEH): Creating a Resource to Expedite Genomic and Gene-Environment Studies

This project further develops the RPGEH, including collection of 100,000 biospecimens, development of measures of environmental exposures, and further development of infrastructure to support collaborative research projects.
Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Multi-ethnic Genome-wide Association Study of Bipolar Disorder

This study aims to identify novel genetic variants that are associated with the risk of bipolar disorder.
Funder: National Institute of Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Prenatal Factors and Risk of Bipolar Disorder

This project aims to examine potential prenatal exposures in relation to the occurrence of Bipolar I Disorder in a large cohort of adults whose pregnant mothers participated in a study of pregnancy outcomes between 1959 and 1967.
Funder: National Institute of Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Prenatal Determinants of Schizophrenia II

This study investigates the role of prenatal determinants of schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) by following up a cohort of 19,000 individuals born between 1959 and 1967 in Alameda County, CA.
Funder: National Institute of Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Pharmacogentics of Antidepressants

This study aims to identify new genetic variants and nongenetic factors that affect therapeutic response and side effects to SSRI antidepressants.
Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Genetic and Non-genetic Risk Factors in MS

This case-control study investigates potential genetic, enviromental and clinical determinants of the risk of developing multiple sclerosis and examines potential associations between these factors and disease severity/progression in MS.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Center on Applied Genetic and Epidemiologic Research on Aging

This project helped to fund the development of the Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health through support of a mailed survey of adult Kaiser Permanente Northern California members and development of computerized disease registries.
Funder: Ellison Medical Foundation
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Prenatal Organochlorines and Male Reproductive Health

This study examines prenatal exposure to organochlorines, measured in stored serum from maternal pregnancies, as potential determinants of male reproductive health in adult members of a large birth cohort.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Environmental Health Sciences
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Early Determinants of Mammographic Density

This study examines perinatal factors and childhood development as potential determinants of mammographic density and breast cancer risk in adult, female members of a large birth cohort.
Funder: National Cancer Institute
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Early Determinants of Adult Health

This is a longitudinal follow-up study of same sex sibling pairs who previously participated in The Child Health and Development Study, Oakland, CA .
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research