Epidemiology and biostatistics are distinct disciplines that contribute to many areas of biomedical research, but in the context of cancer research both disciplines keep a consistent focus on the "bottom line"-distinguishing actual progress in preventing and curing cancer from spurious claims that are the result of poorly designed or interpreted studies. The art of drawing valid conclusions from experiments or quasi-experimental studies rests heavily on considerations of the comparability of the data gathered to the process of tumorigenesis as it occurs in modern human populations. Biostatistics is chiefly concerned with the design and application of methods for appropriately analyzing biomedical data, while epidemiology involves the application of both biostatistical and biological knowledge in the design and conduct of studies of the patterns of disease occurrence.

HCI's epidemiologists and biostatisticians are presently engaged in a wide variety of projects. Many of these projects are collaborations with clinical and laboratory researchers in various fields; others are investigations of quantitative methods and population health issues themselves.

Participating Faculty

Kenneth M. Boucher

Richard A. Kerber - The vast majority of familial cancers are not explained by known predisposition syndromes. Our work is primarily concerned with general patterns of familial aggregation of cancer, and the environmental factors that modify risk in cancer-prone families.

Geraldine Page Mineau

Martha L. Slattery

Lillian Tom-Orme

Alexander Tsodikov

Chuck Wiggins