All News
Explore groundbreaking research, latest insights, and expert perspectives shaping biostatistics, epidemiology, and informatics at Penn Medicine.
Press Release
The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center Awarded a $6.5 Million CDC Grant
October 15, 2024
The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center has received a $6.5 million CDC grant to advance community-based prevention research, focusing on improving shared decision-making for older cancer patients. This five-year project will study interventions tailored to patients’ needs, enhancing outcomes in Philadelphia and beyond.
Publication
New Framework for Health Policy Evaluation: Target Trial Emulation Enhances Accuracy in Nonexperimental Studies
October 9, 2024
In Annals of Internal Medicine, Nicholas Seewald, PhD, introduces a framework for target trial emulation, enabling researchers to evaluate health policies with the rigor of clinical trials in nonexperimental studies.
Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight: Dr. Joseph Romano
October 2, 2024
Joseph Romano, PhD, MPhil, MA is an Assistant Professor of Informatics in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Senior Fellow in the Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBI) and an investigator in the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET).
Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight: Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD
October 2, 2024
Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD serves as an Associate Professor in the Biostatistics division of the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, and is recognized for her collaboration and impactful leadership in the realms of health, statistical education, and inclusion in the field.
Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight: Kacie Bogar, MS
October 1, 2024
For almost three years, Kacie Bogar, MS has served as a Research Project Manager for the Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics (CREST) and the Epidemiology division in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics.
Award
Dr. Stephens Shields Honored with 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship
October 1, 2024
Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, was selected by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to receive the 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship.
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight: Rui Duan, PhD
September 24, 2024
Before joining Harvard University as an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Rui Duan, PhD, completed her PhD in Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight: Edward Kennedy, PhD
September 23, 2024
Edward Kennedy, PhD is a Penn alum through and through—prior to completing his PhD in Biostatistics in 2016, he earned his BA in Mathematics (2007) and MA in Statistics (2014) from the University.
In the Media
Questioning Restrictions on Physical Activity for Risk of Preterm Birth
September 18, 2024
Penn undergraduates assist Beth Leong Pineles, MD, PhD with a study of activity restriction during pregnancy with the goal of “deimplementation” in the Penn Medicine system and ultimately nationwide.
Publication
Dr. Michael Harhay Highlights the Growing Impact of Bayesian Statistics on Clinical Research
September 15, 2024
Michael Harhay, PhD, MPH, co-authors “Bayesian Statistics for Clinical Research” in The Lancet, comparing Bayesian and frequentist methods and highlighting the growing accessibility and impact of Bayesian analysis in medical research.
In the Media
Dr. Kit Delgado Featured in Undark for Advancing Health Care with Nudge Theory at Penn Medicine
September 5, 2024
In a recent Undark feature, Dr. M. Kit Delgado, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, discusses how behavioral science and nudge theory are transforming health care decision-making.
Publication
Dr. Mingyao Li Explores the Transformative Role of AI in Spatial Omics Research in Nature Methods
August 15, 2024
Dr. Mingyao Li’s article in Nature Methods discusses how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing spatial omics, enhancing integration of diverse data and accelerating biological discoveries for improved health outcomes in biomedical research.
In the Media
When There’s Money to Lose, Phone Usage While Driving Drops
July 26, 2024
Can cash incentives make roads safer? A Penn Medicine study led by Dr. M. Kit Delgado reveals how rewards and feedback can significantly cut down handheld phone use while driving.
Announcement
Jiayin Zheng, PhD, Appointed Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
July 1, 2024
Join us in welcoming Jiayin Zheng, PhD, as an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics. Dr. Zheng’s research spans data integration, bioequivalence, and survival analysis, collaborating across neurology, cancer, and infectious disease.
Announcement
Qi Long, PhD, Appointed New Vice Chair of Faculty Professional Development
July 1, 2024
Qi Long, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, has been appointed as the new DBEI Vice Chair of Faculty Professional Development, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
Award
Dr. Nandita Mitra Wins 2024 Cupples Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Leadership
May 9, 2024
Nandita Mitra, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, has been awarded the 2024 L. Adrienne Cupples Award for her outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and leadership in biostatistics and public health.
Announcement
LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, Appointed Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
January 3, 2024
Joining the DBEI as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, will support the development of implementation science infrastructure across divisions.
Announcement
Penn Launches New Epidemiology Track in MPH Program to Address Global Health Challenges
December 4, 2023
The Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics and Master of Public Health Program at the University of Pennsylvania have established an Epidemiology track within the MPH Program, an interdisciplinary graduate program focused on preparing the next generation of public health leaders.
Award
Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS Receives the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award
October 5, 2023
Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS was awarded the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award under the “High-Risk, High-Reward Research” program funded by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. Established in 2004, the NIH […]
In the Media
New Study Links Atopic Dermatitis to Higher Risk of Irritable Bowel Disease
September 1, 2023
Joel Gelfand, MD, the James J. Leyden, M.D. Endowed Professor in Clinical Investigation of Dermatology and Epidemiology, and colleagues at Penn found that adults and children with atopic dermatitis (AD) […]
Award
2023 ASA Fellows: Phyllis Gimotty and Alisa Stephens-Shields
July 7, 2023
In April 2023, the American Statistical Association (ASA) bestowed its prestigious distinction of Fellow on Phyllis Gimotty, PhD, Alisa Stephens-Shields, PhD, and 45 other ASA members for their professional contributions, leadership, and commitment […]
Announcement
Farrar and Schisterman Named to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Ad-hoc Committees
July 7, 2023
Earlier this year, John Farrar, MD, PhD and Enrique Schisterman, PhD were named to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine ad-hoc committees. Farrar serves on “Evaluating the Effects of Opioids and Benzodiazepines on […]
In the Media
Examining Places Where People Experiencing Homelessness Overdose
February 1, 2023
Elizabeth Nesoff, PhD, MPH discusses her recently published study in the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) blog investigating neighborhood features that were correlated with fatal opioid overdoses among the […]
In the Media
Podcast focuses on developing new ways to identify aggressive breast cancer
January 1, 2023
Anne Marie McCarthy, PhD was featured on the Real Pink Podcast where she discussed the development of new ways to identify people with high risk of aggressive breast cancer. Understanding your breask cancer risk
In the Media
Penn Medicine has opened a Center for Living Donation
January 1, 2023
Penn Medicine has opened a Center for Living Donation, bringing under one roof its services for patients who receive kidney, liver, and uterus transplants with organs donated by living people. […]
Op-Ed
How outdated rules restrict gay men from donating blood
January 1, 2023
Dr. Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, FAAP, FAMIA, FACMI shares his experience trying to donate blood as a gay man and discusses how the Unites States has more restrictive rules than […]
Press Release
Stroke, Clot Risk Halved in Patients with Heart Disease and Arrhythmia Who Took Blood Thinners Apixaban Versus Rivaroxaban
October 1, 2022
A difference in the effectiveness against strokes and other blood clots was easily visible in the first year among patients who’d taken the anticoagulant apixaban rather than rival rivaroxaban, according […]
Press Release
Penn Research Finds Psoriasis Medication Leads to Fat Loss
September 1, 2022
First study author, Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, and the investigators discovered that apremilast (brand name Otezla), which has helped psoriasis patients achieve clearer skin and ease the symptoms of their psoriatic arthritis, could […]
Press Release
Researchers Use AI to Predict Rare Diseases
September 1, 2022
Penn Medicine researchers will help lead the development of an algorithm to flag patients at risk of rare disease thanks to a $4.7 million NIH grant. This 4-year U01 will involve 10 […]
Press Release
People with Severe COVID-19 Face Increased Risk of Life-Threatening Blood Clots
August 1, 2022
COVID-19 has been associated with a multitude of diseases, but can it also increase the risk of dangerous blood clots? Dr. Vincent Lo Re III and colleagues explore the risk […]
Publication
False Alarm? Critical Antibiotic Combination Used for Millions of Patients May Not Carry a Previously Reported Risk
July 1, 2022
Patients come to a hospital nearly 36 million times each year in the US, and antibiotics are often part of the picture: One large study showed that clinicians prescribed them […]
Publication
Making the EHR Into a Benefit, Not a Burden
July 1, 2022
In 1991, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine declared that computer-based patient records were an essential technology for health care. The new records would not only support patient […]
In the Media
Mapping Gene Activity Down to the Cellular Level
June 1, 2022
Advanced spatial transcriptomics techniques are advancing our understanding of cancer and other diseases at the cellular level: “You can zoom in, you can look at the tissue-specific features, how many […]
In the Media
The Latest on Paxlovid
May 1, 2022
In a review of current facts about the antiviral drug Paxlovid, Susan Ellenberg, PhD, comments on Pfizer’s unusual release of interim results during an ongoing clinical trial. Read the article […]
Award
Knashawn Morales & Wei-Ting Hwang New ASA Fellows
April 22, 2022
Knashawn Morales, ScD, and Wei-Ting Hwang, PhD, have been named as new Fellows of the American Statistical Association. The world’s largest community of statisticians, the ASA is known as the […]
In the Media
Social Media’s Promise for Medical Research
April 1, 2022
For medical researchers who aim to understand the patient experience, “collecting abundant social-media data is cost-effective, does not involve burdening participants, and is available in real time,” Graciela Gonzalez Hernandez, […]
In the Media
Finding the Right Logic for Masking Rules
April 1, 2022
If Philadelphia’s masking policy aims to prevent spread of Covid-19, emphasizing hospitalization numbers, a lagging indicator, over case numbers isn’t wise, comments Michael Levy, PhD. “It’s like instead of using […]
Publication
Masking Policies for Covid-19: What Does the Science Say?
February 1, 2022
Masking policies during Covid-19 have inspired plenty of political debate, but scientific evidence about the policies’ effects has been very limited. This isn’t surprising, given that it is not practical […]
Publication
Innovative Text Messaging Plus a Nursing Team: Dramatic Covid Results Hint at Broader, Equitable Potential
February 1, 2022
At the start of the pandemic, professionals working in health systems across the US realized that if a sizable portion of the many people infected with SARS-CoV-2 went to hospitals, […]
In the Media
Not Really a “˜White Man’s Disease’
January 1, 2022
A diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis finally explained Christi Taylor-Gentry’s throbbing joint pain. But as recently as 2006, when Alexis Ogdie-Beatty, MD, MSCE, became a doctor, she was taught that the […]
In the Media
Many Hospitalized for Other Ailments Test Positive for Covid, Too
January 1, 2022
Amid the omicron surge, more patients are coming into the hospital for other reasons but testing positive for Covid-19 once they arrive. M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, says that many […]
Publication
With Climate Change, More Cases of Kidney Stones
January 1, 2022
In addition to making events such as catastrophic flooding more frequent, climate change will negatively affect human health in many other ways. Prior research has demonstrated, for instance, that high […]
Announcement
Kevin Johnson Named David L. Cohen University Professor
December 10, 2021
Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, FAAP, FAMIA, FACMI, has been named the David L. Cohen University Professor. Dr. Johnson says that like Cohen, he believes in uniting various sectors to achieve […]
Announcement
George Demiris Named Mary Alice Bennett University Professor
December 9, 2021
George Demiris, PhD, FACMI, has been named the Mary Alice Bennett University Professor. He cites Dr. Bennett’s pioneering policy of respectful care for patients as a great inspiration. Read more.
Op-Ed
A Budding Epidemiologist Tests Positive
December 1, 2021
Epidemiology PhD candidate Katherine Strelau reached a new understanding when she tested positive for Covid-19: We have entered a new era of the pandemic, she wrote in an opinion piece. […]
In the Media
Can Pandemic Pressure Change Clinical Trials From Now On?
December 1, 2021
“We may have underestimated our ability to pivot and change rapidly,” Peter Merkel, M D, MPH, comments about the many ways Covid-19 has reshaped the way we conduct clinical trials ” […]
In the Media
Explaining the Increase in COVID-19 VAERS Reports
December 1, 2021
Jeffrey Morris, PhD, commented on how expanded reporting requirements and intense scrutiny of the hundreds of millions administered COVID-19 vaccine doses have driven record-high reporting of potential side effects to […]
Publication
The Delicate Balance of Pregnancy Research
December 1, 2021
“Pregnant women CAN drink coffee – it could even slash risk of disease for mum and baby,” proclaimed a headline in the English paper The Sun about a recent study […]
In the Media
Blood Still Needed, Pandemic or Not
November 1, 2021
Hospitals in Philly are facing a bad blood shortage. During a pandemic, people still get into accidents and get cancer that requires transfusions, says Meenakshi Bewtra, MD, PhD, MPH. Read […]
Op-Ed
Medical School Diversity: Why Aren’t We There Yet?
November 1, 2021
Why haven’t medical schools achieved real diversity? Reason #1: We must shift away from an applicant-deficit lens and recognize that diversity failures result from deficiencies in our educational and (supposedly) […]
In the Media
Government Data Misused to Question COVID-19 Vaccine Safety
October 1, 2021
It’s frustrating when vaccine opponents use the government’s VAERS database to stoke false concerns about safety, says Susan Ellenberg, PhD, “especially when they interfere in such major ways with critical […]
Publication
Turning the Tables on Diseases that Spread Spatially
October 1, 2021
Many human diseases start out with single cells, which establish the problem by spreading out. Spatial transcriptomics, a groundbreaking method, allows scientists to take advantage of that activity, measuring all […]
In the Media
Booster Shot Shows Promise in Israeli Study
September 1, 2021
A new study showed that older Israelis who received a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are much less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 or to develop severe COVID-19 […]
In the Media
What to Expect With a Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection
September 1, 2021
The experience of a Covid-19 breakthrough infection can range “from being asymptomatic to feeling pretty lousy, but typically it’s a shorter course than what we’re seeing for COVID without the […]
In the Media
Smartwatch Blood Pressure Not Ready for Debut
September 1, 2021
Measuring blood pressure is hard, and getting it right is critical. Can we do it with a smartwatch? That technology is “not ready for primetime yet,” says Jordana Cohen, MD, […]
In the Media
Does Vaccine Power Really Wane?
September 1, 2021
Some evidence that the protection of the Covid19 vaccine wanes comes from observational studies ” and so we must view our inferences critically, says Jeffrey Morris, PhD. In everyday life, […]
Publication
Achieving a Healthy Weight: More Intensive and Tailored Individual Strategies May Be Best
September 1, 2021
Given rising rates of obesity in the U.S. and the many associated health problems, researchers have tested various strategies for weight loss. Both financial incentives and environmental changes — such […]
In the Media
Complexities of the Late-Stage Pandemic
August 1, 2021
An analysis by Jeffrey Morris, PhD, showed how Israel’s Covid19 data were easily misinterpreted: the elderly are both most vaccinated and most at risk for severe illness. The findings were […]
In the Media
Unpacking a Vaccine Paradox
August 1, 2021
Covid-19 vaccines work, but a statistical illusion makes some people think they don’t. This perspective piece prominently cites work by Jeffrey Morris, PhD. Read the perspective in the Washington Post
In the Media
Slowing Delta in Philadelphia
August 1, 2021
To slow spread of the Covid-19 delta variant, Philadelphia needs an even greater, on-the-ground push for more vaccination, comments Michael Levy, PhD: “This thing is just about momentum.” Read the […]
In the Media
Eviction Risk High, COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Low
August 1, 2021
Michael Z. Levy, PhD, warned that the looming return of evictions comes at a time when COVID-19 vaccination rates in the U.S. have plateaued and while the highly transmissible Delta […]
In the Media
Festivals on a Different Footing
August 1, 2021
Can a music festival be safe during the Covid-19 pandemic? It’s not so much about attendees’ personal risk, comments Michael Levy, PhD. It’s about what happens when they bring the […]
In the Media
Helping Teens to Concentrate on Driving
July 1, 2021
M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, commented on evidence-based tips to help teens reduce distraction when driving. Read the article in the Wall Street Journal
Op-Ed
Questions Good AI Should Answer
July 1, 2021
A good clinician consultant should be able to explain why they arrived at a particular recommendation, and explainable artificial intelligence should also be possible, writes Jason Moore, PhD ” […]
Publication
Breast Cancer Diagnosis in the ‘Between’ Year: Body Mass Index Matters
July 1, 2021
Although mammography reduces breast cancer mortality by 15 to 20 percent, the diagnosis in many cases — approximately 15 percent of all breast cancers — occurs after a patient has […]
Publication
Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Adding to the Options for Relief
July 1, 2021
While many studies have looked at how to limit patients to a short course of opioids, few have examined the other side of the issue: Are there some patients for […]
In the Media
Persuading the Vaccine Hesitant: The Numbers Say It All
June 1, 2021
Pennsylvania isn’t tracking all Covid-19 cases in vaccinated residents, but other states’ data show a clear, relevant trend, says Jeffrey Morris, PhD: “The vaccines are really working, and the unvaccinated […]
In the Media
The Surveillance System We Need for Vaccines
June 1, 2021
To maintain public safety and trust in vaccines, we need an agile, internationally harmonized surveillance system, argue Vincent Lo Re III, MD, MSCE, and colleagues. Read the commentary in BMJ […]
In the Media
Normality, with a Note of Caution
May 1, 2021
Where vaccination rates are highest, we see fewer Covid-19 cases. But if virus activity increases in winter, areas with low vaccination rates will be at higher risk, commented Jing Huang, […]
In the Media
Despite Local Lags, a Positive Big Picture
May 1, 2021
As Pennsylvania nears a Covid-19 vaccination benchmark, Jeffrey Morris, PhD, says county-level variations won’t be a big problem: While we may see some local brush fires, we won’t have a […]
In the Media
Battling Vaccine Misinformation
May 1, 2021
Some people do misinterpret events reported in the public Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), says Susan Ellenberg, PhD. “But without public access, I think it’s worse. Because then you […]
In the Media
Consequences of Overturning the Eviction Ban
May 1, 2021
Michael Z. Levy, PhD, commented on the potential public health consequences of a federal judge’s ruling (later staid, temporarily, by the US Justice Deptl) to end the CDC’s national eviction […]
In the Media
Vaccine Safety and Risk
April 1, 2021
Susan Ellenberg, PhD, sorted out recent news about COVID-19 vaccines, and how the public can evaluate various facts. Listen to the Stats + Stories podcast
In the Media
During the Pandemic, Pressures on Women in Science
April 1, 2021
“That first month was really hard,” commented Alisa Stephens-Shields, PhD, about the COVID-19 lockdown. Her infant daughter’s day care was closed, and her five-year-old was at home, not at school. […]
In the Media
An “End” of the Pandemic?
April 1, 2021
It will be hard to say when the COVID-19 pandemic is “over” in the United States, says Michael Z. Levy, PhD. “These things don’t necessarily end cleanly,” he said in […]
In the Media
Maternity Risks Higher in a Black Neighborhood
April 1, 2021
A new study found that living in a majority-Black neighborhood in Philadelphia is linked to increased maternal health issues. Mary Regina Boland, MA, MPhil, PhD, commented. Read the coverage on […]
In the Media
Halting Evictions Helped Reduce Spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia
April 1, 2021
The CDC’s order prohibiting evictions in fall ” winter 2020 likely prevented thousands of COVID-19 infections per million metropolitan residents, showed a study co-led by Michael Z. Levy, PhD. Dr. […]
In the Media
Deciding When to Suspend a Vaccine
March 1, 2021
Susan Ellenberg, PhD, discussed the risks of blood clots connected with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and weighed whether it was necessary to suspend use. Hear the coverage on the BBC
In the Media
Not a Catch-All
March 1, 2021
Susan Ellenberg, PhD, said some reports of post-vaccination symptoms may actually be unrelated to the COVID-19 vaccine. “Vaccines protect against one thing: the infection or the infection plus disease,” she […]
In the Media
On the Ground Strategies
March 1, 2021
“When you have the whole world working on something at the same time “the evidence evolves fast,” Meghan Brooks Lane-Fall, MD, MSHP, FCCM, commented about COVID-19 care. “Every time I […]
In the Media
As COVID-19 Vaccines Become Available, Questions About the Trials
February 1, 2021
“People can make the argument: I volunteered to be in the trial”¦I should be able to get the vaccine right away even if I’m young and healthy,” Susan Ellenberg, PhD, […]
Op-Ed
What Is Data Science?
January 1, 2021
Jason Moore, PhD, shares his understanding of his field: Data science, at its heart, is about solving a problem with whatever tools you have at your disposal. Read the article […]
In the Media
What AIDS Can Teach Us About Covid Behavior
December 1, 2020
The parallels between AIDS and Covid-19 are striking, comments Robert Gross, MD, MSCE. Both are spread asymptomatically, and shaming over whether one does or doesn’t wear a mask is not […]
Op-Ed
Equalizing Access to Clinical Trials
November 1, 2020
Typically underserved groups are underrepresented in therapeutic clinical trials” so the findings may be less applicable for them. Sean Hennessy, PharmD, PhD, describes how experimental treatment has benefited his wife […]
In the Media
How AI Can Help Us Fight COVID-19
October 1, 2020
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can help us fight COVID-19, Jason Moore, PhD, told The Washington Post. But if you study only populations that are primarily Caucasian, that may not […]
Op-Ed
Why Are So Many Black Americans Dying of COVID-19?
April 1, 2020
Across the United States, black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at disproportionately higher rates than their white counterparts. If the data from other large cities hold true in Philadelphia ” […]
Op-Ed
What a Ventilator Shortage Means During COVID-19 ” and How We Can Help
March 1, 2020
We believe that as many as one million Americans will need the support of ventilators ” five times the number we have, writes critical care physician Meghan Brooks Lane-Fall, MD, […]
Award
Hongzhe Li Honored by ASA Philadelphia Chapter
January 9, 2020
The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Statistical Association” the world’s largest community of statisticians” has honored Hongzhe Li, PhD, with its Award for Reseach Excellence. Read more about Dr. Li.
Publication
Harmonization of cortical thickness measurements across scanners
February 15, 2018
With the proliferation of multi-site neuroimaging studies, there is a greater need for handling non-biological variance introduced by differences in MRI scanners and acquisition protocols. Such unwanted sources of variation, […]
Announcement
New $1 Million+ Award from PCORI to Rebecca Hubbard and Colleagues
July 7, 2016
The award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute enables Rebecca Hubbard (pictured) and colleagues Yong Chen and Jinbo Chen, all CCEB senior scholars, to sketch a patient’s true profile. New […]