Pharmacoepidemiology

The mission of the Program in Pharmacoepidemiology and Real World Evidence (RWE) is to equip the next generation of investigators with the expertise needed to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and use of drugs, biologics, and medical devices.  

Pharmacoepidemiology combines principles of pharmacology with epidemiology to study how medications are used and what their effects are in real-world populations. It generates Real World Evidence (RWE) on patterns of utilization, safety, and effectiveness of medical products using data from sources such as electronic health records, insurance claims and registries. Pharmacoepidemiologists often apply causal inference methods to real-world data to answer questions about how drugs perform across more diverse patient populations and over longer time frames than traditional controlled clinical trials typically allow. This field supports efficient trial design, post-marketing surveillance, and safety and effectiveness evaluations across a product’s life cycle, ultimately guiding clinicians, regulators, and industry in improving public health. 

The Program in Pharmacoepidemiology’s comprehensive yet flexible curriculum blends formal coursework with hands-on research experience. In partnership with the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacoeconomics at Mass General Brigham, the program delivers an integrated educational experience through a specialized curriculum featuring both core and elective courses, collaborative engagement with diverse faculty, and individualized training plans. 

Graduate Profile

Name: Motohiko Adomi

Area of Research: Pharmacoepidemiology

Degree: Masters of Science (SM2)

Year of Gradation: 2023

Current Role: PhD student in Epidemiology

Learn more

Highlights from the program include:

• Access to a wide array of courses covering research methods such as causal inference, artificial intelligence, and database analytics, as well as study design, randomized clinical trials, meta-analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, health services research, pharmacovigilance, drug development, and regulatory science 
• Participation in innovative research projects allows students to gain expertise in specific diseases or drug classes, data analysis, and the translation of research findings into clinical or regulatory recommendations 
• Integration with Mass General Brigham enhances opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration within the Harvard Medical Area and provides access to unique data resources, including large healthcare claims databases and electronic health records 
• Students are encouraged to pursue internships with regulatory agencies or industry and to participate in scientific meetings. Graduates go on to teach and conduct RWE research across academia, government, and industry. 

Learn more about our faculty below: