The 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.

Biography

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.

Dr. Fardo is an excellent fit for the Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award because of his contributions to biostatistical research, his leadership in the field, and his commitment to addressing important public health challenges. As a graduate of Harvard’s Biostatistics program, his 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.

About the Award

The annual Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award has been established in memory of Dr. Stephen Lagakos, a faculty member and former chair of the Department of Biostatistics who passed away in a tragic automobile accident in 2009.

Professor Lagakos was a leader in the Department, the School of Public Health, and more broadly, in the international community of quantitative biomedical researchers. Steve’s qualities of commitment, passion, intellectual brilliance, and personal generosity had a direct personal impact on our lives; and his contributions to biostatistics and to AIDS research were fundamental.

This award serves to honor Steve’s distinguished career, and to recognize Department alumni whose research in statistical theory and application, leadership in biomedical research, or commitment to teaching have had a major impact on the theory and practice of statistical science. The award will be open to all who have an earned degree through the department, regardless of length of time since graduation or type of degree.

The award recipient will be invited to the school to deliver a lecture on their career and life beyond the Department.

Nomination

Nominations should include contact information for yourself and your candidate, and the candidate’s curriculum vitae, if available. Please include a letter describing the contributions of the candidate, specifically highlighting the criteria for the award. Supporting letters and materials would be extremely helpful to the committee, but are not required.

Nominations are due: August 13th, 2027

Please send nominations to: kpietrini@hsph.harvard.edu

Previous Award Winners

• 2025 Bethany Hedt- Gauthier
• 2024 Lu Tian
• 2023 Rui Wang
• 2022 Andrea S. Foulkes
• 2021 Scarlett Bellamy
• 2020 Joseph Hogan
• 2019 Fong Wang Clow
• 2018 Amy Herring
• 2017 Nicholas Horton
• 2016 Judith Goldberg
• 2015 Victor DeGruttola
• 2014 Michael Daniels
• 2013 Jesse Berlin
• 2012 Melissa Begg
• – renamed The Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award –
• 2011 Manning Feinleib
• 2010 Daniel Scharfstein
• 2009 John Simes
• 2008 Robert Strawderman
• 2007 Takeuchi Masahiro
• 2006 Daniel Siegel
• 2005 Christl Donnelly
• 2004 Stuart Baker