Cancer Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention (formerly Cancer Epidemiology)
In addition to research methodology, the curriculum in this area includes courses on the biology and genetics of cancer; the basic concepts and issues of cancer epidemiology; the roles of lifestyle factors such as dietary intake and physical activity, environmental and occupational exposures in the etiology of cancer; the integration of biomarkers (e.g., plasma, genetic, and tumor markers) into research; the prevention of cancer; and research methods. More
Doctoral students conduct research in a substantive or methodological area related to cardiovascular epidemiology. Research opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral students include a broad area of topics, including the role of diet, genetics, plasma markers, lifestyle characteristics, clinical interventions, and environmental predictors of primary and secondary onset of cardiovascular disease. More
Clinical Epidemiology
This area is designed primarily for clinicians and other health care professionals in the 42.5-credit master's program who wish to develop the quantitative skills needed for clinical research. Students take core courses in epidemiology and biostatistics to develop basic skills in study design and analysis that will allow them to examine clinical questions related to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. More
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
This area is closely associated with the concentrations in exposure, epidemiology, and risk and in occupational health in the Department of Environmental Health. Students take courses in epidemiology, environmental health, occupational health, biostatistics, toxicology, genetics, and environmental exposure assessment. Doctoral students conduct research in a substantive or methodologic area related to environmental or occupational health. More
Epidemiologic Methods
This area provides training in the development and application of new methods in epidemiologic research. Students learn to use and justify classical epidemiologic methods in study design, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Students also receive training in biostatistical areas most relevant to epidemiologic research. Recent innovations in epidemiologic methodology are introduced through advanced courses and tutorials. More
Epidemiology of Aging
This area is geared toward those interested in the diseases and conditions, as well as research methods, specific to older populations. Social and cultural aspects of health in older persons are also covered. Core courses focus on the epidemiologic aspects of the study of aging and include topics in biology, statistics, and other relevant fields. Numerous research opportunities on a wide range of issues, including neurologic diseases, osteoporosis, incontinence, and others, are available. More
Infectious Disease Epidemiology (also as inter-disciplinary program option) (formerly Infectious Diseases)
Research in this area focuses on the biological and dynamic features of infectious diseases, with emphasis on the use of epidemiologic approaches to study the social, behavioral, and biological determinants of infectious disease emergence, transmission, pathogenesis, and immunity. Courses within the department cover the common features of communicable diseases and their dynamics, methods for the analysis of transmission dynamics, and advanced topics in the epidemiology of certain specific infectious diseases, especially HIV. Students in this area ordinarily join the interdisciplinary concentration in the epidemiology of infectious disease. More
Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology
Training encompasses family-based association methods, genome-wide association studies to identify the chromosomal localization of genes associated with disease, and fine mapping and identification of these genes. Population-based studies correlate variation in genes with disease risk and prognosis and assess gene-environment interactions. Relevant courses explore the genetic epidemiology of complex diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, psychiatric illnesses, Alzheimer's disease, and asthma. More
Neuro-Psychiatric Epidemiology More
This increasingly, integrated program is comprised of two areas of concentration. Students typically elect one of the two areas:
Neuroepidemiology This area provides training in research methodology and the epidemiology of neurological diseases. Current research is focused on the roles of diet, infections, and environmental exposures in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and integrates biomarkers and genetic factors.
Psychiatric epidemiology This area introduces students to concepts and methods for studying the genetic and psychosocial factors that relate to the prevalence, incidence, and outcome of different types of psychiatric illnesses. Emphasis is given to issues of reliability and validity in studying such disorders among children, adolescents, and adults.
Nutritional Epidemiology
Through courses in the Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, students in this area learn methods of nutritional assessment and their related strengths and weaknesses. Students also receive advanced training in the nutritional determinants of disease and in methods for analysis specific to research in nutritional epidemiology. Students can conduct research within several large prospective ongoing studies at HSPH and Harvard Medical School. More
Oral and Dental Health Epidemiology
This program will no longer be available beginning in the Fall of 2010.
This area focuses on the determinants of both unintended and expected effects of drugs, vaccines, biologics, medical procedures, and medical devices. Patterns of utilization, cost-benefit and risk-benefit analyses, and investigation of the distribution of diseases possibly amenable to medical intervention represent important secondary themes. The Department of Epidemiology offers courses in pharmacoepidemiology and a variety of ongoing research projects. Relevant courses elsewhere in the school cover such areas as clinical trials, meta-analysis, drug regulatory affairs, decision analysis, and health services research. Students ordinarily have a prior degree in medicine or pharmacy. More
Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology (formerly Reporductive Epidemiology)
This area focuses on the determinants of health and disease in reproduction and childhood development.
Reproductive topics include pubertal development, gynecologic disorders, female reproductive cancers, sexually transmitted infections, menstruation, menopause, female and male fertility, and assisted reproductive technologies.
Perinatal topics focus on pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, as well as pregnancy outcomes such as labor and delivery, preterm birth and birth defects.
Pediatric topics center on disorders and diseases in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, including eating disorders, obesity, asthma, allergies, migraine, and depression.
Students can also investigate childhood and adolescent predictors of adult diseases, such as intrauterine exposures, fetal development, childhood growth patterns, pubertal timing, violence, diet, smoking, and tanning bed use. Many faculty have expertise in global issues of maternal health and child development.
Methodological issues pertaining to the special issues arising in the analysis of reproductive and perinatal outcomes (involving the environment and genome of mother, father, and offspring), epigenetics, and methods for collecting information from and about children and across the lifespan are a strong emphasis.More
Causal Inference (additional research area)
Women, Gender and Health (inter-disciplinary program)