A Better Beginning for Every Baby
Through the Prevention of Birth Defects
The Center for Better Beginnings at UC San Diego is advancing the health of moms and babies. Located in the Department of Pediatrics, also known as the Division of Environmental Science and Health, we bring together multiple maternal and infant health programs that focus on the identification, prevention, and treatment of birth defects. In order to give every baby the healthiest life possible, you have to start at the beginning.
Birth defects, or congenital anomalies, are structural or functional abnormalities caused by problems during the baby’s development inside the womb. There are two causes for birth defects: genetics and environmental factors. Our specialty is identifying elements from a person’s environment that interrupt healthy cell development in their baby, such as alcohol and certain medications.
Discover how we are pioneering research, providing superb clinical care, and educating the next generation of leaders so we can improve lives everywhere.
- ROKSPROCKET_MOSAIC_ORDERING_DEFAULT
- ROKSPROCKET_MOSAIC_ORDERING_TITLE
- ROKSPROCKET_MOSAIC_ORDERING_DATE
- ROKSPROCKET_MOSAIC_ORDERING_RANDOM
The Center for Better Beginnings co-directors, Dr. Christina Chambers and Dr. Kenneth Lyons Jones, are involved in active clinical and epidemiological research programs. They also maintain a strong commitment to teaching at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels, and participate in many programs for trainees in the areas of pediatrics, dysmorphology, teratology, genetics, epidemiology, behavioral health, and pharmacology.
