From Signal to Noise: Addressing Multiplicity Using the Exposome-Neurodevelopment Example
Join us on Wednesday, October 8 for the Epidemiology Seminar Series, featuring Dr. Stefania Papatheodorou discussing From Signal to Noise: Addressing Multiplicity Using the Exposome-Neurodevelopment Example.
Abstract: In epidemiologic research, investigators frequently examine numerous concurrent environmental exposures and outcomes within a single study. However, the degree of multiplicity involved is often underreported or unclear. The question of how to appropriately handle multiplicity—whether during study design, statistical analysis, or in the communication of findings—remains a subject of considerable debate. This issue becomes even more pressing in exposome research, where the potential number of exposures is vast and continuously growing. Since causality cannot be reliably inferred solely from the presence of statistically significant associations, it is crucial to enhance transparency around multiplicity. Doing so helps mitigate the risk of spurious associations and strengthens the credibility of reported findings. This talk will explore these concepts through an example on ambient exposome and neurodevelopmental delays, and it will outline future directions to improve methodological rigor and reproducibility across life sciences.
Bio: Stefania Papatheodorou, MD, PhD, MSc, is an Associate Professor in Epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health and a trained obstetrician and gynecologist. Her research lies at the intersection of extreme weather, air pollution, pregnancy, and children’s health. She has been the primary investigator on multiple epidemiological studies examining the association between prenatal exposure to extreme weather, air pollutants, and adverse pregnancy and childhood outcomes. Her research utilizes a wide range of administrative data sources, such as electronic health records, birth registries, and claims data. She is currently focused on examining the effects of prenatal and early childhood exposure to extreme weather and air pollutants on children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Speaker Information
Stefania Papatheodorou, MD, PhD, MSc
Organizers
Related Events
ⓘ Harvard Chan School hosts a diverse array of speakers, invited to share both scholarly research and personal perspectives. They do not speak for the School, and hosting them does not imply endorsement of their views, organizations, or employers.