Research

Methods and Applications

Methodological Research

• Bayesian Methods
• Causal Inference
• Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials
• Computational and Systems Biology
• Digital Phenotyping
• Statistical and Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI)
• Network Methods
• Methods for Electronic Health Record Data 
• Statistical Inference with High Dimensional Data
• Semiparametric Theory 
• Longitudinal and Spatio-temporal Methods 
• Statistical Genetics and Quantitative Genomics
• Survival Analysis

Application Domains

• Aging 
• Cancer
• Climate Science
• Chronic Diseases
• Genomics and Genetics
• Environmental Health
• Infectious Diseases, including HIV/AIDS
• Microbiome
• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Women’s Health

Research Groups

The Department of Biostatistics at the Harvard Chan School is associated with a number of centers and research groups studying:

• Adult and pediatric HIV and AIDS 
• Women’s health 
• Climate change and health 
• Quantitative genomics 
• Microbiomes 
• Translational data science

Dive into our associated centers and research groups below.

Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research (CBAR)

CBAR’s mission is to foster statistical science in clinical trials and other research studies in infectious diseases, particularly HIV. It pursues this mission by promoting innovative strategies for the design, data monitoring, analyses, and reporting of research studies and by providing education and training relevant to the statistical aspects of infectious disease research.

Learn more about the Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research (CBAR).

Apple Women’s Health Study

In the first study of its kind, the Harvard Chan School has teamed up with Apple and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to gain a deeper understanding of how certain demographic and lifestyle factors could have an impact on menstrual cycles and gynecologic conditions including infertility, menopause, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 

Learn more about the Apple Women’s Health Study.

Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS)

The PHACS network conducts multiple longitudinal cohort studies investigating the long-term effects of HIV and antiretroviral (ARV) medications in children and young adults who were born with HIV or born exposed to HIV. These studies follow newborns, young children, adolescents, and young adults. Learn more about the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS).

BUSPH-HSPH Climate Change and Health Research Coordinating Center (CAFE)

The CAFE RCC is a critical component of the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative and aims to build a community of practice by managing and supporting climate change and health research and capacity-building efforts. The CAFE RCC engages an array of key stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental and community-based organizations, industry, foundations, and potential funders. Learn more about the BUSPH-HSPH Climate Change and Health Research Coordinating Center (CAFE)

Program in Quantitative Genomics (PQG)

The PQG is a school-wide interdisciplinary program that seeks to improve health through the study of genetics, behavior, environment, and medicine through the development and application of quantitative methods. It accomplishes this through the use of high-throughput omic data and interdisciplinary training in quantitative genomics. Learn more about the Program in Quantitative Genomics (PQG)

The Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center (HCMPH)

The mission of the HCMPH is to expand our understanding of the microbiome to improve population health through basic research, translation, policy, education, and outreach. This includes human microbiome contributions to and interactions with chronic disease, basic and infectious disease microbiology, molecular epidemiology, nutrition, environmental health, computational and quantitative methods, and public health policy and best practices. Learn more about The Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center (HCMPH).

Translational Data Science Center for a Learning Health System (CELEHS)

The CELEHS research team is an interdisciplinary team of researchers from various biomedical data science fields working together to develop analytical and predictive tools that leverage biomedical data to improve the efficiency and accuracy of healthcare delivery. Learn more about the Translational Data Science Center for a Learning Health System (CELEHS).