KRISTEN KOCHER, PH.D. Research Postdoctoral Fellow
Kristen Kocher, Ph.D., joined the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) in December 2022 as a Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development T32 Research Postdoctoral Fellow. Kristen studies the genomic and epigenomic signatures associated with perinatal stressors and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Prior to joining DBI, she obtained her doctorate in Genomics and Bioinformatics from the George Washington University. Kristen’s dissertation focused on using novel bioinformatic approaches to characterize the impact of fetal congenital heart disease and maternal psychological distress on the neonatal epigenome.
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 20010
Email: [email protected]
Department: MRI Lab
Research, Education and Innovation Week 2024 awards
Kocher K, Ngwa J, Galla JT, Basu SK, Ottolini K, Andescavage N, du Plessis A, Limperopoulos C. Early epigenetic biomarkers of accelerated aging in extremely versus very preterm infants. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024. (Certificate of Excellence awarded to lead author, Kristen Kocher. Basic Science: Fellow Award.)
Recent publications & presentations
2024 | April
Kocher K, Ngwa J, Andescavage N, Henderson D, Limperopoulos C. Prenatal exposure to COVID-19 pandemic is linked with epigenetic age acceleration in newborns. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
2023
Kocher K, Bhattacharya S, Niforatos-Andescavage N, Almalvez M, Henderson D, Vilain E, Limperopoulos C, Délot EC. Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Med Genomics. 2023 Oct 30;16(1):268. doi: 10.1186/s12920-023-01707-4. PMID: 37899449
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37899449/
2022
Kocher K, Bhattacharya S, Bramble MS, Okitundu-Luwa D, Ngoyi DM, Tshala-Katumbay D, Vilain E. DNA methylation patterns associated with konzo in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clin Epigenetics. 2022 Dec 19;14(1):179. doi: 10.1186/s13148-022-01372-x. PMID: 36536449; PMCID: PMC9764695
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36536449/
“Determining genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal, perinatal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic.” American Society for Human Genetics Meeting. Los Angeles, California. 2022.
“Newborn epigenetic markers associated with elevated stress from the COVID-19 pandemic.” Children’s National Research & Education Week. Washington, D.C. 2022. Winner, Best Trainee Poster in Basic and Translational Research
“Characterization of neonatal epigenomic markers associated with elevated stress from the COVID-19 pandemic.” Pediatric Academic Society Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado. 2022.