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Deborah Waber, PhD  Children's logo  Harvard logo
 Deborah Waber, PhD
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   Department  Psychiatry
   Hospital Title  Director of Research
   Academic Title  Associate Professor
   Phone  617-355-6523
   Fax  617-730-0618
   Email  Deborah Waber
   Location  300 Longwood Avenue
Pavillion 1
Boston MA 02115
Research Overview

Deborah Waber's research goal is to investigate in a developmental context the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors on children's neurobehavioral functioning. She and her colleagues have examined the impact of childhood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors) and its therapies on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children who survive these diseases. In collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Consortium, the Waber group has tracked late neurocognitive effects associated with therapies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Their studies have documented a steady reduction of adverse long-term effects, over a 20-year period, even as the efficacy of therapies improved.

Waber and colleagues also investigate idiopathic learning disabilities, particularly low-level information processing problems. In studies of children referred for learning problems, they have documented that a decreased efficiency of low-level information processing is independent of academic skill levels. Waber's research suggests that learning disability is better understood as a developmental disorder than as a deficit in academic skills.

About Dr. Waber
Deborah Waber received a PhD from Yale University.
Key Publications
  • Waber DP, Silverman LB, Catania L, Mautz W, Rue M, Gelber RD, Levy D, Goldwasser, M, Adams H, Dufresne A, Romero I, Metzger V, Tarbell NJ, Dalton VK, Sallan, SE. Outcomes of a randomized trial of hyperfractionated cranial radiation therapy (18 Gy) for treatment of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Therapeutic efficacy and neurotoxicity. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2004; 22: 2701-2707.

  • Waber DP, Shapiro B, Carpentieri SC, Gelber RD, Zou G-Y, Dufresne, A, Romero I, Tarbell NJ, Silverman LB, Sallan SE. Minimal late neurotoxicity and excellent efficacy of therapy in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with 1800 cGy CRT: Seven-year follow-up of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Consortium Protocol 87-001. Cancer 2001; 92: 15-22.

  • Waber DP, Weiler MD, Forbes PW, Bernstein JH, Bellinger DC, Rappaport L. Neurobehavioral factors associated with referral for learning problems in a community sample: evidence for an adaptational model. Journal of Learning Disabilities 2003; 36: 467-483.
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