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Mark Walker, MSc, MD, FRCSC
Phone: (613) 739-6655
Fax: (613) 739-6266
General Campus (see Contact page for maps)



Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Ottawa

RESEARCH

Health services research, population health research, and clinical studies in perinatology

Dr. Mark Walker is a Perinatologist and Clinical Epidemiologist. His areas of research are in health services research, clinical studies and population health. Since beginning on staff 4 years ago he and his research partner Shi Wu Wen have created a nationally recognized group in perinatal epidemiology, OMNI (Obstetrics and Maternal Newborn Investigations). They are one of the main themes of research in the clinical epidemiology program.

Dr. Walker has performed numerous clinical studies and has an expertise in the area of thrombophilia and pregnancy. His work includes elucidating the changes in clotting factors during pregnancy. More recently he has performed a meta-analysis of thrombophilia and adverse perinatal outcomes

Dr. Walker has spear headed a perinatal birth cohort (The Ottawa Birth Cohort) which will recruit 8000 mother-baby pairs. Information on socio-demographic status, blood for biochemical and genetic analysis and umbilical cord blood and placental samples are being collected. He is interested in the fetal origins of adult disease and is currently looking at the long-term effects of intrauterine use of corticosteroids for fetal maturation.

In the past five years Dr. Walker has supervised 4 international Post-doctoral Fellows and fifteen Fellows & residents. Four of the Fellows/Residents have won peer reviewed grants to perform their research. Five of the fifteen have won research awards at both the local and national levels. He has also supervised four undergraduate students.

RESEARCH PERSONNEL (OMNI Research Group)

•  Dr. Mark Walker, Director/co-Principal Investigator

•  Dr. Shi Wu Wen, Co-Principal Investigator

•  Dr. Sarah McDonald, Investigator

•  Ruth Rennicks White, RN, Research Manager

•  Diane Gorley, Research Administrative Assistant

•  Lily Gillen, Administrative Assistant

•  Wen Liang Zeng, Administrative Assistant

•  Dr. Qiuying Yang , Post-Doctoral Fellow

•  Dr. Xikuan Chen, International Post-Doctoral Fellow

•  Dr. Juan Vazquez, International WHO/STIRRHS Post-Doctoral Fellow

•  Lucy Chura, BScN

•  Melanie Good, RN

•  Laura Payant, BScN

•  Pauline Shields, RPN

•  Mandy Weselak , MSc

CURRENT GRANT SUPPORT

Career Scientist Award. Ontario Ministry of Health. $250,000 (2001-2005)

Infrastructure for Perinatal Epidemiology Unit - Operating, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, $849,988 (2001-2005) Walker MC , Wen SW (Co-PI)

Infrastructure for Perinatal Epidemiology Unit - Equipment, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, $101,966 (2003-2007), Walker MC , Wen SW (Co-PI)

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Pilot Study Assessing Nitroglycerin as a Tocolytic. (Medical Research Council, $1,100,000 (2000-2005) Smith G, Walker MC , Windrim R, Barrett J, Ohlsson A and O'Brien K.

TIPPS - Thrombophilia in pregnancy prophylaxis study. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, $401,000 and Pharmacia and Upjohn $850,000 in-kind drug contribution plus $150,000 (2001-2005). Rodger M, Wells P, and Walker MC

STIRRHS - Strategic Training Initiative in Research in the Reproductive Health Sciences, Canadian Institute for Health Research , $300,000 (2001-2007). Fraser W, Wood S, Walker M , von Dadelszen P, MCoshen J, Lye S, Leung P, et al

Oocyte: Program on Oocyte Health (group grant). Canadian Institute for Health Research , $2,781,266 (2003-2007). Baltz J, Chian RC, Claman P, Clarke H, Walker M , Wen, SW

The Public and Genetics: Understanding, Expectations and Priorities, Canadian Institute for Health Research , $172,336 (2003-2005). Wilson B, Graham I, Coyle D, Walker M . Morier G.

TOP-C – Thrombophilia and Outcomes of Pregnancy Cohort, Heart and Stroke Foundation, $131,272 (2003-2005). Rodger M, Walker M , Wen SW, Wells P.

PE-NET – New Emerging Team – Pre-eclampsia: Fetal & Maternal Outcomes and Innovative Therapies. Canadian Institute for Health Research , $1,739,481 (2003-2008). Smith G, Graham CH, Kisilevsky B, MacDonald S, Walker M , Wen SW.

INTAPP – International Trial of Antioxidant Prophylaxis in Pregnancy. Canadian Institute of Health Research , $4,923,266 (2002-2007). Fraser W, Xiang X, Julien P, Thomas N, Walker M , et al

TIGRESS – Thrombophilia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction Study. Canadian Institute for Health Research , $1,100,000 (2003-2008). Rodger M, Walker M (Co-PI), Wells P, Nair R, Wen W.

Anti-depressants in pregnancy: benefits and risks to mothers and their offspring. Post-Graduate Fellowship Program, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Canadian Institute for Research Rx&D Research Program, $40,000/yr approx (2005-2007). Yipu Shi, Wen SW, Walker M (Co-mentor)

ANTAG: The Use of Folic Acid Antagonists in Pregnancy and the Incidence of Birth Defects and Adverse Fetal and Infant Outcomes. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $140,290 (2004-2007). Wen SW, Walker M (Co-PI), Nimrod C, Fraser W, Olatunbosum O.

BENZO: Benzodiazepines in pregnancy and birth defects – STIRRHS Bursary, $76,000 (2004-2006). Yang Q, Wen SW, Walker M (Co-mentor).

CHOB: Fetal macrosomia and adolescent obesity, Canadian Diabetes Association, $224,333 (2004-2007). Wen SW, Walker M , Sigal RJ, Nair R, Mbikay M.

QUEST: Venous Thrombosis: From bench to bedside to health economics and policy. Heart and Stroke Foundation, $1,250,000 (2004-2009). Wells P, Rodger M, Gagnon F, Walker M , et al

Environmental carbon monoxide (CO) level and the risk of pre-eclampsia (PE). Heart and Stroke Foundation, (final funding pending), (2005-2007). Wen SW, Walker M , Krewski D, Yang Q, Smith G.

TAPP: Thrombophilia and placental pathology. Heart and Stroke Foundation (final funding pending), (2005-2008). Rodger M, Walker M (Co-PI), Keating S, Yang Q, Kingdom J, Wen SW, Smith G.

Environmental carbon monoxide level and the risk of pre-eclampsia. STIRRHS Post-Graduate Fellowship/Canadian Institutes of Health Research , $74,000. Chen X, Wen SW, Walker M (Co-Mentor)

Antidepressants in pregnancy: benefits and risks to mothers and their offspring. Wyeth/Canadian Institutes of Health Research , $80,000 (2005-2007). Shi Y, Wen SW, Walker M (Co-Mentor)

PUBLICATIONS (last 5 years)

  1. Yang Q, Wen SW, Chen Y, Krewski D, Fung Kee Fung K, Walker M . Neonatal death and morbidity in vertex-nonvertex second twins according to mode of delivery and birth eight. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005. 192: 840-847
  2. Yang Q, Wen SW, Chen Y, Krewski D, Fung Kee Fung K, Walker M . Occurrence and clinical predictors of o0erative delivery for the vertex second twin after normal vaginal delivery of the first twin. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005. 192: 178-184
  3. Wen SW, Walker M . An exploration of health effects of folic acid in pregnancy beyond reducing neural tube defects. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada 2005. 27(1); 13-19
  4. Wen SW, Smith G, Yang Q, Walker M . Epidemiology of pretern birth and neonatal outcome. Seminars in Fetal & neonatal Medicine 2004. (9); 429-435
  5. Yang Q, Wu Wen S, Dubois L, Chen Y, Walker MC , Krewski D. Determinants of breast-feeding and weaning in Alberta, Canada, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada, 2004 Nov; 26(11): 975-81
  6. Tan H, Wen SW, Walker M , Demissie K. Parental race, birth weight, gestational age, and fetal growth among twin infants in the United States . Early Human Development 2004. Nov 80(1): 153-160
  7. Tan H, Wen SW, Walker M , Demissie K. Missing paternal demographics: A novel indicator for identifying high risk population of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Biomed Centrl, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Nov 2004, 4:21
  8. Walker M , Murphy K, Saiyi P, Yang Q, Wen SW. Adverse maternal outcomes in multi-fetal pregnancies. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Nov 2004; 111, 1294-1296
  9. Wen SW, Walker M . Risk of fetal exposure to tricyclic antidepressants (TCA's). Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada . 2004 Oct 26(10): 887-92
  10. Wen SW, Walker M , Leader A. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICS): Promises and challenges. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2004 Oct 12; 171(8) 845-6
  11. Tan H, Wen SW, Walker M , Demissie K. The effect of parental race on fetal and infant mortality in twin gestations. Journal of National Medical Association. 2004 Oct 96 (10); 1337-1342
  12. Bahauddin I. Sallout, Karen Fung Kee Fung, Shi W. Wen, Laura M. Medd, Mark C. Walker . The effect of fetal behavioral states on middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004, 191, 1283-1287
  13. Wen SW, Rusen ID, Walker M , Liston R, Kramer MS, Baskett T, Heaman M, Liu S. Comparison of maternal mortality and morbidity between trial of labour and elective caesarean section among women with previous delivery, 1988 to 2000. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004. 191, 1263-69
  14. Shi Wu Wen, Karen Fung Kee Fung, Lawrence Oppenheimer, Kitaw Demissie, Qiuying Yang , Mark Walker . Neonatal morbidity in second twin according to gestational age at birth and mode of delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004: 191, 773-7.
  15. Wen SW, Fung Kee Fung K, Oppenheimer L, Demissie K, Walker M . Neonatal mortality in second twin according to cause of death, gestational age and mode of delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004: 191, 778-783
  16. Wen SW, Walker M . The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada . Sept 2004; 26(9); 819-822
  17. Wen SW, Demissie K, Yang Q, Walker M . Maternal morbidity and obstetric complications in triplets and quadruplets or higher order multiples. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004: 191/1; 254-258
  18. Wen SW, Walker M . Risk of fetal exposure to folic acid antagonists. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada . 2004; 26(5): 475-479
  19. Alkazaleh F, Viero S, Simchen M, Walker M , Smith G, Laskin C, Windrim R, Kingdom J. Ultrasound diagnosis of severe thrombotic placental damage in the second trimester: an observational study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2004 May; 23(5): 472-476
  20. Wen SW, Fung Kee Fung K, Oppenheimer L, Demissie K, Yang QY, Walker M . Occurrence and predictors of cesarean delivery for second twin after vaginal delivery of the first twin. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004, Mar; 103(3), 413-9
  21. Tan H, Wen SW, Mark W (Walker M) , Fung KF (Fung Kee Fung K), Demissie K, Rhoads GG. The association between fetal sex and preterm birth in twin pregnancies. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004 Feb 1; 103(2): 327-32
  22. Lei H, Wen SW, Walker M . Determinants of cesarean delivery among women hospitalized for childbirth in a remote population in China . Journal of Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Canada . November 2003 Vol 25(11), 937-943
  23. Sallout B, Walker M . Festschrift for Dr. Garner: Fetal Origin of Adult Diseases. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada . 2003 Sept 23(05); 555-560
  24. Rodger M, Makropoulos D, Keely E, Walker M , Karovitch A, Wells P. Participation of pregnant women in clinical trials: Will they participate and why? American Journal of Perinatology. 2003 Vol 20(2), 69-76
  25. Rodger MA, Walker M , Wells PS. Diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism in pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Haematology, 2003:16:2, 279-296
  26. van Walraven C, Mamdani M, Katib Y, Walker M , Rodger M. A population-based cohort study to determine if pre-eclampsia increases the risk of subsequent thromboembolism. British Medical Journal. April 2003; 12;326(7393), 791-792
  27. McDonald S, Tam L, Lougheed J, Ferguson S, Walker M . The prevention of congenital anomalies with periconceptional folic acid supplementation. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada , February 2003, 115-121
  28. Benzies K, Walker M et al. Challenges facing researchers of tomorrow: Perspective of Canadian Health Research Institute for Mother Child and Youth (CHRIMCY). Pediatrics in Review. 2003
  29. Rodger MA, Carrier M, Keely E, Karovitch A, Nimrod C, Walker M , Wells PS. The management of thrombophilia during pregnancy – A Canadian survey. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada , December 2002, (12); 946-952
  30. Ferguson SE, Smith GN, Salenieks MA, Windrim R, Walker M . Preterm premature rupture of membranes: Nutritional and socioeconomic factors. Obstetrics and Gynecology. December 2002, Vol 100(6), 1250-1256
  31. McDonald SD , Perkins SL, Jodouin CA , Walker M . Folate levels in pregnant smokers: An important gene environment interaction. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. September 2002 187; 620-5
  32. Smith GN, Walker M . Single versus multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada , April 2002, 339-341
  33. Walker M . Early feeding after cesarean section shortened hospital stay without increasing ileus symptoms. Evidence-Based Obstetrics and Gynecology. June 2002; 4:64-65
  34. Karkanis SG, Caloia D, Salenieks ME, Kingdom J, Walker M , Meffe F, Windrim R. Randomized controlled trial of rectal misoprostol versus oxytocin in third stage management. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada 2002;24(2), 149-154
  35. McDonald SD , Walker M. Homocysteine levels in pregnant women who smoke cigarettes. Medical Hypotheses, December 2001, 57(6), 792-796
  36. Smith G, Walker M. The use of nitroglycerin as a tocolytic. Letter to the editor, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, September 2001 197(9), 1183-1184
  37. Holmes P, Oppenheimer L, Gravelle A, Walker M , Blayney M. The effect of variable heart rate decelerations on intraventricular hemorrhage and other perinatal outcomes in preterm infants. Journal of Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2001; 10:264-268
  38. Walker M , Ferguson S, Allen V. Heparin prophylaxis for the prevention of adverse perinatal outcome in women with a thrombophilia. Cochrane Collaboration of Systematic Reviews 2001
  39. Scott H, Walker M , Gruslin A. Significance of meconium stained amniotic fluid in the preterm population. The Journal of Perinatology, April-May 2001 (21(3); 174-177
  40. Ferguson SE, Smith GN, Walker M . Maternal homocysteine levels in women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Medical Hypothesis, January 2001, 56(1), 85-90
  41. Walker M , Smith GN, Kingdom JC. Thrombophilia and obstetrical morbidity. Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologist of Canada Journal, August 2001; 683-689
  42. Walker M , Pandya P. Cost-benefit analysis for Down Syndrome using the British or the American approach. Letter to the editor. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2000; 96(3), 481
  43. Smith GN, Walker M , McGrath MJ. Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study assessing nitroglycerine as a tocolytic. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1999 (106); 737-739
  44. Fung Kee Fung M, Temple L , Walker M , Fung Kee Fung K, Milne JK. The K.O.A.LA. * Continuous professional development program: An integral part of the lifelong learning continuum. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada 1999; 21(11); 1065-1075
  45. Walker M , Smith G, Perkins S, Keely E, Garner P. Changes in homocysteine levels during normal pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1999; 180; 660-664
  46. Lal S, Walker M , MacDonald S, Bala M. Spouse abuse in pregnancy: A survey of physicians' attitudes and interventions. Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada Journal 1999; 21(5); 565-572

 

PUBLICATIONS IN PRESS

  1. Tan H, Wen SW, Gagnon F, Walker M . The estimation of heritability for twin data based on concordance of sex and disease. Chronic Diseases in Canada . In press 2004
  2. Tan H, Wen SW, Walker M , Fung Kee Fung K, Demissie K, Rhoads GG. The effects of fetal gender and gender concordance on preterm birth among twin pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology. In press 2004
  3. McDonald SD, Perkins SL, Walker M . Correlation between self-reported smoking status and serum cotinine during pregnancy. Addictive Behaviors. In Press 2004.
  4. Rodger M, Howley Heather HA, Walker M . A systematic review of the association between factor V Leiden (FVL) or prothrombin gene variant (PGV) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In press 2004



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