David Fardo to receive the 2026 Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award!
We are extremely pleased to announce that Dr. David Fardo, Stephen W. Wyatt Endowed Professor of Public Health and Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Kentucky, will be the recipient of the 2026 Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award!
Dr. Fardo is scheduled to give an in-person lecture at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on Thursday, October 15th. More details to follow.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Fardo has built a broad research program at the intersection of biostatistics, genetics, and public health. His work uses statistical approaches to investigate complex questions in Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegenerative disease, and aging, with additional expertise in genome-wide association studies and longitudinal data analysis. At the University of Kentucky, he serves as the Stephen W. Wyatt Endowed Professor of Public Health and Professor of Biostatistics, as well as Director of the Statistical ’Omics Research Center and a co-investigator and co-core director of the University of Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Dr. Fardo received his A.M. in Biostatistics from Harvard University in 2006 and his Ph.D. in Biostatistics in 2008, completing his dissertation on statistical issues in genome-wide association studies under the mentorship of Dr. Christoph Lange. Since joining the University of Kentucky, he has developed an extensive body of collaborative research examining the genetic and biological factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, aging, and other areas of public health. His work reflects a longstanding interest in using biostatistical methods to better understand complex diseases and advance biomedical research.
Throughout his career, Dr. Fardo has also demonstrated a strong commitment to academic leadership, education, and mentorship. He previously served as Acting Chair of Biostatistics and Assistant Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Kentucky. In 2024, he was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association, recognizing his contributions to statistical genetics and genetic epidemiology, research in aging and neurodegeneration, mentorship, statistical education, and service to the profession.
As a graduate of Harvard’s Biostatistics program, Dr. Fardo’s career reflects the continued impact of the department’s alumni through research, education, mentorship, and collaborative science. This recognition celebrates Dr. Fardo’s accomplishments as a biostatistician and the impact of his work across genetics, aging, and neurodegenerative disease research. His continued contributions to research, education, and the broader biostatistics community make him an excellent choice for the 2026 Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award.
