Lewis B. Holmes

Lewis B. Holmes is a distinguished professor at Harvard University, where he holds a prominent position in medical genetics and teratology. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed specialized training in genetics and pediatrics. His research program centers on the effects of medications and other exposures during pregnancy, with particular emphasis on identifying risk factors for major congenital malformations. Holmes has made seminal contributions to understanding the teratogenic risks of antiseizure medications, establishing critical evidence that guides clinical practice worldwide. His work extends to epidemiological studies of neural tube defects and other structural abnormalities, combining clinical observation with population-based data to assess long-term outcomes. He directs the National Birth Defects Prevention Study's teratology component and maintains the longstanding Elective Terminations Registry at his institution, which has documented fetal abnormalities over four decades. Holmes has received numerous awards for his research, including the March of Dimes Colonel Harland Sanders Award for lifetime achievement in genetic sciences. With an h-index of 74 and over 420 publications, he continues to shape guidelines for prenatal screening and medication use in pregnancy, ensuring his work translates directly to improved patient counseling and safer maternal-fetal care.