Carol Bower

Carol has qualifications in medicine, epidemiology and public health. Her research has a strong focus on investigating causes and effects of birth defects, on translating research findings into public health policy and practice and on evaluating the effectiveness of that translation. Leading examples are the prevention of neural tube defects (promoting periconceptional folic acid supplement use and mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid) and research on prevention, diagnosis and management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Other research using data linkage includes outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies, medication use in pregnancy, birth defects in association with intellectual disability and cerebral palsy, and risk factors for and outcomes of several birth defects (eg trachea-oesophageal fistula, orofacial clefts, congenital heart defects). Major current research projects are: FASD in juvenile justice; and the development of a national Centre of Research Excellence -Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health - REAACH.