The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center Awarded a $6.5 Million CDC Grant
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.
New Framework for Health Policy Evaluation: Target Trial Emulation Enhances Accuracy in Nonexperimental Studies
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.
Glen Lafferty
Contact Blockley Hall (Room 114)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-898-4691 glaffert@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Mark Chanel, MBA, MSc
Contact Blockley Hall (Room 818)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 mark.chanel@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Sandra Barile
Contact Blockley Hall (Room 922)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-746-8557 sabarile@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Catherine Vallejo
Contact Blockley Hall (Room 633)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-573-4922Fax: 215-573-4865 vallejo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Marissa Fox
Contact Blockley Hall (Room 633)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-573-7393 mfox@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Community Spotlight: Dr. Joseph Romano
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).
Natalya Levina, MS
Contact Blockley Hall (Room 923)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-573-6167 natalya.levina@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Community Spotlight: Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD
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: Kacie Bogar, MS
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.
Dr. Stephens Shields Honored with 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship
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: Rui Duan, PhD
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: Edward Kennedy, PhD
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.
Meghann Risell
Contact 6th Floor, South Pavilion PCAM Expansion3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Bldg. 421Philadelphia, PA 1910 Office: 215-898-8731 Mobile: 609-784-5116meghann.risell@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Questioning Restrictions on Physical Activity for Risk of Preterm Birth
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.
Dr. Michael Harhay Highlights the Growing Impact of Bayesian Statistics on Clinical Research
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.
Marylyn D. Ritchie, PhD, FACMI
Dr. Ritchie is an expert in translational bioinformatics, with a focus on developing, applying, and disseminating algorithms, methods, and tools integrating electronic health records (EHR) with genomics. The mission of […]
Dr. Kit Delgado Featured in Undark for Advancing Health Care with Nudge Theory at Penn Medicine
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.
Dr. Mingyao Li Explores the Transformative Role of AI in Spatial Omics Research in Nature Methods
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.
When There’s Money to Lose, Phone Usage While Driving Drops
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.
Jiayin Zheng, PhD, Appointed Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
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.
Qi Long, PhD, Appointed New Vice Chair of Faculty Professional Development
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.
Dr. Nandita Mitra Wins 2024 Cupples Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Leadership
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.
LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, Appointed Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
Joining the DBEI as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, will support the development of implementation science infrastructure across divisions.
Penn Launches New Epidemiology Track in MPH Program to Address Global Health Challenges
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.
Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS Receives the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award
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 […]
New Study Links Atopic Dermatitis to Higher Risk of Irritable Bowel Disease
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) […]
Farrar and Schisterman Named to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Ad-hoc Committees
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 […]
2023 ASA Fellows: Phyllis Gimotty and Alisa Stephens-Shields
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 […]
Examining Places Where People Experiencing Homelessness Overdose
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 […]
Podcast focuses on developing new ways to identify aggressive breast cancer
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
Penn Medicine has opened a Center for Living Donation
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. […]
How outdated rules restrict gay men from donating blood
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 […]
Stroke, Clot Risk Halved in Patients with Heart Disease and Arrhythmia Who Took Blood Thinners Apixaban Versus Rivaroxaban
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 […]
Penn Research Finds Psoriasis Medication Leads to Fat Loss
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 […]
Researchers Use AI to Predict Rare Diseases
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 […]
People with Severe COVID-19 Face Increased Risk of Life-Threatening Blood Clots
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 […]
False Alarm? Critical Antibiotic Combination Used for Millions of Patients May Not Carry a Previously Reported Risk
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 […]
Making the EHR Into a Benefit, Not a Burden
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 […]
Mapping Gene Activity Down to the Cellular Level
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 […]
The Latest on Paxlovid
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 […]
Knashawn Morales & Wei-Ting Hwang New ASA Fellows
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 […]
Social Media’s Promise for Medical Research
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, […]
Finding the Right Logic for Masking Rules
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 […]
Innovative Text Messaging Plus a Nursing Team: Dramatic Covid Results Hint at Broader, Equitable Potential
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, […]
Masking Policies for Covid-19: What Does the Science Say?
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 […]
With Climate Change, More Cases of Kidney Stones
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 […]
Many Hospitalized for Other Ailments Test Positive for Covid, Too
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 […]
Not Really a “˜White Man’s Disease’
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 […]
Kevin Johnson Named David L. Cohen University Professor
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 […]
George Demiris Named Mary Alice Bennett University Professor
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.
The Delicate Balance of Pregnancy Research
“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 […]
Explaining the Increase in COVID-19 VAERS Reports
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 […]
A Budding Epidemiologist Tests Positive
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. […]
Can Pandemic Pressure Change Clinical Trials From Now On?
“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 ” […]
Blood Still Needed, Pandemic or Not
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 […]
Medical School Diversity: Why Aren’t We There Yet?
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) […]
Turning the Tables on Diseases that Spread Spatially
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 […]
Government Data Misused to Question COVID-19 Vaccine Safety
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 […]
Smartwatch Blood Pressure Not Ready for Debut
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, […]
Booster Shot Shows Promise in Israeli Study
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 […]
Does Vaccine Power Really Wane?
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, […]
Achieving a Healthy Weight: More Intensive and Tailored Individual Strategies May Be Best
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 […]
What to Expect With a Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection
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 […]
Complexities of the Late-Stage Pandemic
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 […]
Unpacking a Vaccine Paradox
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
Slowing Delta in Philadelphia
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 […]
Eviction Risk High, COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Low
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 […]
Festivals on a Different Footing
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 […]
Helping Teens to Concentrate on Driving
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
Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Adding to the Options for Relief
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 […]
Questions Good AI Should Answer
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 ” […]
Breast Cancer Diagnosis in the ‘Between’ Year: Body Mass Index Matters
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 […]
Persuading the Vaccine Hesitant: The Numbers Say It All
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 […]
The Surveillance System We Need for Vaccines
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 […]
Normality, with a Note of Caution
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, […]
Despite Local Lags, a Positive Big Picture
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 […]
Battling Vaccine Misinformation
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 […]
Consequences of Overturning the Eviction Ban
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 […]
Halting Evictions Helped Reduce Spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia
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. […]
An “End” of the Pandemic?
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 […]
Maternity Risks Higher in a Black Neighborhood
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 […]
Vaccine Safety and Risk
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
During the Pandemic, Pressures on Women in Science
“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. […]
Deciding When to Suspend a Vaccine
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
Not a Catch-All
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 […]
On the Ground Strategies
“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 […]
As COVID-19 Vaccines Become Available, Questions About the Trials
“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, […]
What Is Data Science?
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 […]
What AIDS Can Teach Us About Covid Behavior
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 […]
Equalizing Access to Clinical Trials
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 […]
How AI Can Help Us Fight COVID-19
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 […]
Why Are So Many Black Americans Dying of COVID-19?
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 ” […]
What a Ventilator Shortage Means During COVID-19 ” and How We Can Help
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, […]
Hongzhe Li Honored by ASA Philadelphia Chapter
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.
Harmonization of cortical thickness measurements across scanners
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, […]
New $1 Million+ Award from PCORI to Rebecca Hubbard and Colleagues
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 […]