October 2016 - The Epidemiology Monitor

One-Day IJE Sponsored Conference Touches On Many Current Issues In Epidemiology Agreement On The Field’s Purpose Still Elusive Back in 2001 the new editors of the International Journal of Epidemiology (IJE) asked—“Epidemiology: Is it time to call it a day?” That was a direct question and their answer was no. At the recent IJE one day conference 16 years later, the editors launched their conference by asking another more ambiguous question --“ Is (publishing) epidemiology history?”and the answers were expected to be more nuanced, according to Shah Ebrahim, co-editor of the IJE.

He explained why to The Epidemiology Monitor. “This is a consequence of trends in methods of communicating scientific findings, our own experience of editing the IJE, a belief that knowing what went before is fundamental to doing better studies and gaining greater understanding, and the growth of modern epidemiological methods,” he said.

-3Marmot Makes the Case for Social Determinants -5Report on Systematic Reviews

- IJE continues on next page

-9New Epi Contest

Presidential Candidates Questioned On Science Topics And Scored On Their Answers Public Health, Climate Change and Vaccination Are Included In Top 20 Science Questions of 2016 Another presidential election is upon us, and just as in 2012, ScienceDebate.org has compiled answers from each candidate on America’s top science, engineering, tech, health & environmental issues1. According to the organization, “These key issues affect voters’ lives as much as the foreign policy, economic policy, and the faith and values statements that candidates traditionally share with journalists on the campaign trail.”

Scientific American solicited the opinions of experts in each field covered by the questions to help grade each candidate’s answers2. Two dozen scientists offered - Presidential Candidates continues on page 12 October 2016

In This Issue

•

Volume Thirty Seven

•

Number Ten

-12Epi News Briefs

-21Marketplace

-IJE continued from page 1 The Epidemiology Monitor ISSN (0744-0898) is published monthly

by Roger Bernier, Ph.D., MPH at 33 Indigo Plantation Rd, Okatie, SC, 29909, USA.

Editorial Contributors Roger Bernier, PhD, MPH Editor and Publisher Brian Bernier, PhD Staff Science Writer Jenni Bernier, PhD Staff Science Writer Operations Linda Bernier, PhD, MS Operations Manager Advertising Sales Ron Aron Director of Advertising 770.670.1946 ron.aron@epimonitor.net 2016 Advertising Rates All ads listed below also include a banner ad on our website and in our EpiGram emails.

Full Page $1,195 7.5”w x 10” h Half Page $895 7.5”w x 5” h Quarter Page $695 3.75”w x 5” h Website Ad $495 / mo.

Includes a banner ad in our EpiGram emails

Conference Topics Among the topics touched upon at the conference were aspects of the history and future of epidemiology, its relationships with other areas of science, funding, data access, and public understanding and media interest in epidemiological findings.

The speakers and topics are listed at the end of this article.

Why Epidemiology Matters According to Ebrahim and co-editor George Davey Smith, the talks provoked considerable discussion about the direction of epidemiology.

For example, the talk given by Katherine Keyes of Columbia on why epidemiology matters laid out very clearly the ideas underlying what epidemiology was and what it is becoming. She stressed the importance of maintaining the broad scope of epidemiology (beyond causal inference). Her promotion of “population health sciences” as a means of teaching and practicing what seems to be getting pushed out in the USA (with strong emphasis on causal inference as the main purpose of epidemiology) is highly relevant, they said.

Uses of Epidemiology

Multi-month discounts available upon request.

Contact Us The Epidemiology Monitor 33 Indigo Plantation Rd, Okatie, SC, 29909 USA 678.361.5170 epimon@aol.com

2

The authors added, “in the UK, causal inference in terms of the potential outcomes approach is not taught in MSc Epidemiology courses so perhaps the need for a new discipline of “population health sciences” is less obvious. What is very clear is that the original ideas about the uses of epidemiology, advanced by Jerry Morris, Mervyn

Susser, and others need to be taught and understood by current and future generations of epidemiologists.”

Reaction To Presentations Richard Smith, former editor of the British Medical Journal and a speaker at the conference, blogged that attending the conference was like a schadenfreude experience “…as an outsider to watch a professional group agonize over who they are, whether they matter, whether their methods are adequate, and whether they are missing something important."

Smith described the presentation by geographer Danny Dorling who reported on both increases (bad news) and decreases (good news) in morbidity/mortality in different populations and asked why these events have not been given more attention by epidemiologists. The answer, at least for some in the room, according to Smith, was that “epidemiologists had lost their way in ever cleverer mathematics, complex software programmes they barely understand, arcane debates over methods, and increasingly sophisticated studies of questions that hardly matter.”

Ben Goldacre, also a presenter at the conference on data transparency, called the meeting a “victory lap” for Ebrahim and Davey-Smith. He went on to describe the talks by each speaker in a phrase or two and encouraged readers on his Bad Science blog to “settle in” and watch the videos of all the speakers.

“Nothing on telly is worth the candle”, he added.

- IJE continues on page 7

Marmot Makes The Case Yet Again For Social Determinants Of Health As The “Causes Of The Causes” Social Inequalities Drive Health Inequalities The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s annual Boyer Lecture series featured prominent epidemiologist and public health researcher Sir Michael Marmot this month, delivering four lectures entitled Fair Australia: Social Inequalities and the Health Gap. The lectures were based on findings from his work over the last 30 years on the social determinants of health.

In his first lecture, Marmot makes his case that the societal inequalities affecting the conditions in which people live, work and age, drive the health inequalities seen throughout the world. As an example of the relationship between dramatic health, social and economic inequalities that exist even within highly developed countries, Marmot refers to a 20 year difference in life expectancy between the richest (83 years) and poorest (63 years) sections of Baltimore Maryland.

He points out that the inner city section with the lowest life expectancy is the very neighborhood where riots broke out in 2015 in response to the police killing of a black man. He cites similar gaps in life expectancy found elsewhere such as London, where similarly a 2011 riot took place in the neighborhood with the lowest life expectancy and argues that the very same social conditions that promote civil unrest are significant contributors to poor health.

While it may seem obvious to many that the poor have worse health outcomes than the rich, a key finding coming from Marmot’s research is that

health and life expectancy outcomes exist on a gradient both within and across all social and income classes.

As Marmot puts it, “People in the middle of the hierarchy have worse health than those above them and better than those lower than them. It is true in supposedly egalitarian Australia and it is in class-bound England.” This finding illustrates the importance of focusing on the social determinants of health for all people and not just society’s poorest citizens.

“People in the middle of the hierarchy have worse health than those above them and better than those lower than them.”

Determinants Across The Life Span While much of public health research and policy is devoted to what Marmot refers to as “downstream” factors, behaviors we know to negatively affect health like smoking or drinking, he suggests that society must devote more attention to what he calls the “upstream” factors.

These “causes of the causes” determine the context within which all downstream factors take place, thereby ultimately influencing how and when behavior choices are made by individuals. This leads Marmot to suggest that we need to look at the whole life from early childhood to old age and social inequities that influence opportunities to grow and thrive.

The second and third lectures in the series continue on this theme, examining in more detail the influence of social inequalities on childhood development and our - Marmot continues on next page

“...we need to look at the whole life from early childhood to old age and social inequities that influence opportunities to grow and thrive."

3

-Marmot continued from page 3

"Do we have the

will to close the gap in a generation?”

working lives and how these affect health in adulthood. Marmot argues that adverse conditions in childhood lead to fewer opportunities for meaningful and fulfilling employment in adulthood. In turn this leads people to lack a feeling of personal empowerment and control over their lives, which he believes has major negative effects on health outcomes.

Inequalities Not Inevitable Despite the complexity of the issues underlying inequality, Marmot argues that health inequalities are not inevitable, pointing to the great variation in health inequality seen across the globe. In his final lecture, Marmot offers examples of successful interventions and suggests our efforts should be directed at minimizing social inequalities that contribute to the health gap.

“...the problems are huge, there is a long, long way to go but progress can be rapid.”

He begins his fourth lecture stating, “we have in our heads the knowledge to close the gap in a generation; we have in our hands the means to close the gap in a generation; the question is what do we have in our hearts. Do we have the will to close the gap in a generation?” He argues that both government and community actions are necessary and cites work on social

determinants of health taking place all around the world.

On a national level, Marmot suggests new economic policies are needed to address rapidly growing income and wealth inequalities. On a local level, Marmot gives examples of community programs and interventions that promote education, economic development and cultural continuity, empowering individuals and giving them more control over their lives.

Despite a long career studying the numerous and powerful social factors that can lead to poor health, Marmot remains optimistic, saying “the problems are huge, there is a long, long way to go but progress can be rapid”. Through efforts to create a more socially just and equitable society, he believes that we can greatly improve the health and lives of many of the world’s citizens.

Marmot is currently a professor of Epidemiology and Public Health from the University College of London, the president of the World Medical Association and director of the Institute for Health Equity. All four lectures are available in their entirety for download here: https://tinyurl.com/z9kbjew ■

Advertise in our Annual Calendar Edition Every December we publish a comprehensive epidemiology calendar listing summer programs, short courses, conferences, workshops, online events and more. It is a document that people refer to throughout the year and offers our advertisers their best opportunity to reach the largest number of people in the industry.

Don't miss out - space is limited - book your ad today!

For more information please contact:

4

Ron Aron, Director of Advertising / 770.670.1946 / ron.aron@epimonitor.net

Report Finds Systematic Reviews Increasing Dramatically In Quantity But Decreasing In Quality Not All Studies Are Created Equal A new report has found an astounding 2600% increase in the publication rate of both systematic reviews and metaanalyses on Pub Med in the past three decades from 1986 through 2014. The analysis by Stanford’s John Ioannidis published in the September 2016 Milbank Quarterly discovered that much of the more recent increase comes from overseas, where Chinese author affiliations represent more than a third of the meta-analyses published in 2014 and outpace the United States by four-fold. Yet despite this increase, Ioannidis estimates that “only a small fraction of data from empirical biomedical studies are included in such efforts”, leaving out a vast portion of potentially relevant information on a topic. Furthermore, Ioannidis found that many of the articles retread the same ground, addressing nearly identical questions with sometimes little acknowledgement for one another.

Redundancy Example One such example used by Ioannidis was of numerous meta-analyses all published within 4 years (2008-2012) that looked at the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Across these studies, the result went first from a non-significant summary effect of the drugs to a highly significant effect and benefit of statins in the second study. The latter result was then essentially found and supported again and again in the nine proceeding publications.

This repetition is not uncommon. In

fact, a survey of all topics from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that most had more than one published meta-analysis covering them, although some had as many as 13. And while there is potential value in replicating or updating the results of these studies, this publishing practice can lead to confusion for even the most welltrained investigators, particularly when the conclusions differ.

“...only a small fraction of data from empirical biomedical studies are included in such efforts...”

To wit, Ioannidis compared the results of several meta-analyses ranking the effectiveness and or tolerability of diverse antidepressants and found that a given drug’s rank out of 12 could vary considerably among them, with some studies even reaching opposite conclusions.

Questionable Motivations?

The case of meta-analyses of antidepressants is particularly enlightening with respect to some of the problems that face this type of reporting. The massive amount of money in the pharmaceutical industry coupled with the influence many systematic reviews and metaanalyses have on patients and doctors can make these types of publications effective marketing tools.

“...a given drug’s rank out of 12 could vary considerably among them, with some studies even reaching opposite conclusions.

For example, Ioannidis identified 185 eligible meta-analyses published from 2007 through March 2014 on - Systematic continues on next page

5

-Systematic continued from page 5

"... nearly all of the industryauthored articles favorably reviewed the assessed drug..."

antidepressants, 29% of which were authored by employees of the assessed drug’s manufacturer and nearly 80% which had some ties to the industry (via sponsorship or conflict of interest). Unsurprising is the fact that nearly all of the industry-authored articles favorably reviewed the assessed drug and were more than 20 times less likely than other metaanalyses to have negative statements about such drugs, despite the use of the same primary data.

This brings to light other issues that face the field including variations in a study’s selection criteria, statistics, and synthesis methods, all of which can dramatically influence the final conclusions.

Make Meta-Analysis Great Again

"...there is not one single solution for this problem.."

6

Ioannidis is careful to caution that the criticism of these methods that he brings to light should not be considered an endorsement to revert to nonsystematic reviews. Done properly he believes that systematic reviews and meta-analyses can be quite valuable and should be conducted by those who have few stakes in the results and by those who do not have financial (or other) conflicts of interest. Because methodology is of utmost importance, transparency can improve matters, and registration of a study protocol can be helpful.

Matthew Page and David Moher, who published a commentary on the Ioannidis article in the same issue of The Milbank Quarterly, agree. They state that policies that “enhance transparency and reproducibility regarding the availability of data and

and methods for all research articles... are also likely to improve the credibility of research articles in the future”, but emphasize that biomedical researchers, and indeed the members of the entire public health field, require more training on research methodology.

To address this Page and Moher suggest formal training in reporting guidelines such as PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) to improve reporting quality overall, prevent bias, and reduce “research waste”. Additionally, they suggest a model called a “living systematic review” as an alternative to the one-off publications, in which an initial systematic review is updated over time by a community of collaborating scientists.

In the end, they emphasize that there is not one single solution for this problem, and the strategies to fix the issues outlined above will take the work of all parties involved, from methodologists and researchers, to journals and publishers. They are hopeful that by focusing on sound science and methodological rigor, the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses will improve.

Primary Sources: Original article: https://tinyurl.com/zhcuo3j Commentary: https://tinyurl.com/jeynvv4 Cochrane: http://www.cochrane.org PRISMA: http://www.prisma-statement.org/ ■

-IJE continued from page 2 Luisa Zuccolo, also at Bristol University, in her recap of the conference on the IJE blog concluded that “ it left more questions than answers.”

"...at the heart of efforts to develop a code of ethics for epidemiologists is the need to determine what are our allegiances."

"It will be the largest single issue we have published..."

Allegiances In Epidemiology This conference was not the first to provoke epidemiologists to reflect on their core identity. At least one earlier conference in Birmingham Alabama in 1989 (See Epi Monitor June 1989) raised questions about the purposes of epidemiology. At that meeting, Albert Jonsen, a professor of ethics in medicine at the University of Washington, said “at the heart of efforts to develop a code of ethics for epidemiologists is the need to determine what are our allegiances.

Do these allegiances have priorities?

To the truth? To the social welfare? To the employers? What is epidemiology all about? When there is communal agreement about these issues, epidemiologists can develop a code of ethics.”

It appears those conversations are also needed for answering questions about the value of epidemiology and its uses in the larger society. The needed conversations have been lacking and the communal agreement appears to have eluded the profession.

Videos of the individual presentations at the conference can be accessed at the links below.

December Issue of IJE

7

Participants at the conference also heard about plans for the December issue of IJE on Causality in

Epidemiology. It will contain lengthy articles and commentaries from leading epidemiologists and book reviews of VanderWeele’s and Pearl’s new textbooks on causality, according to the editors. They told the Epidemiology Monitor “It will probably be the largest single issue we have published and will provide readers with an up to date and comprehensive review of schools of thought in causality. Perhaps the most important aspect are the commentaries of epidemiologists from different schools commenting on each others ideas.”

Entitled Causality in Epidemiology— The Last Frontier, some of the articles have already been published online.

Readers can access them from the links at the end of this article.

Topics and Speakers at IJE Conference George Davey Smith: Epidemiology after 2017: methods or matter?

School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol Danny Dorling: Epidemiology: abandoning the social. How deaths in England and Wales rose in a year by 5%, in Scotland by 9%, but epidemiologists were too busy with the genome to notice the bills of mortality School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford Shah Ebrahim: IJE 2000-2016: what happened?

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; University of Bristol - IJE continues on page 8

-IJE continued from page 8 Ben Goldacre: Data access and transparency Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford Follow us on our Facebook page for earliest notification of job listings and breaking news.

Katherine Keyes: Why does epidemiology matter?

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Tom Koch: Mapping history into the future Department of Geography, University of British Columbia Martin McKee: Epidemiology in the age of austerity London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Alex Mold: Placing the public in public health: epidemiology and the public in post-war public health Centre for History in Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Richard Smith: The death of journals can’t come soon enough Chair, International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Links to the videos for these talks can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/gvvafc8

Articles Published Early Online From IJE December Issue On Causality Krieger N and Davey Smith G. The tale wagged by the DAG: broadening the scope of causal inference and explanation for epidemiology http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/09/28/ije.dyw114.full Vandenbroucke et al. Causality and causal inference in epidemiology: the need for a pluralistic approach http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/01/21/ije.dyv341.full VanderWeele et al. Letter to the Editor: Re: Causality and causal inference in epidemiology: the need for a pluralistic approach http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/08/08/ije.dyw162.full Chiolero A. Letter to the Editor: Counterfactual and interventionist approach to cure risk factor epidemiology http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/08/08/ije.dyw159.full Schooling CM et al. Letter to the Editor: Causality and causal inference in epidemiology: we need also to address causes of effects http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/08/08/ije.dyw160.full Broadbent A et al. Letter to the Editor: Authors’ Reply to: VanderWeele et al., Chiolero, and Schooling et al. http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/08/08/ije.dyw163.full ■

8

On The Light Side Several Competitive Entries Received In Our “Exactly Six Words” Contest To Create A Story About The Life Of An Epidemiologist Last month we invited epidemiologists of all ages to write a story in exactly six words about the life of an epidemiologist. The purpose of this contest is to create stories which best capture the life of an epidemiologist. Entries of all types—unique, humorous, inspiring or other characteristic are all welcome.

The winner for the best entry will receive a $300 cash prize.

To help stimulate your creative thinking, below are a few of the entries we have received. Send your entries now to epimon@aol.com. Multiple entries are allowed.

No magic bullets; only data, suggestions Count, investigate, intervene, count, graph, regroup No, I can’t check your mole.

Simulation worked perfectly, reality proved obstinate Agonize over causation; use associational language.

Data to policy: average 40 years Data accuracy and availability limit recommendations Lost notion of appropriate dinner conversation.

Epicurve hastens epidemiologists outbreak containment effort All entries become the exclusive property of the newsletter. The deadline for submission is November 15, 2016. Send your entries to epimon@aol.com

Advertise in our Annual Calendar Edition Every December we publish a comprehensive epidemiology calendar listing summer programs, short courses, conferences, workshops, online events and more. It is a document that people refer to throughout the year and offers our advertisers their best opportunity to reach the largest number of people in the industry.

Don't miss out - space is limited - book your ad today!

For more information please contact: Ron Aron, Director of Advertising / 770.670.1946 / ron.aron@epimonitor.net

9

Epi News Briefs

"... the Rochester Epidemiology Program (REP) is a, 'unique national resource [that] is unmatched in our country in terms of the depth and breadth of information about a single population,'..."

"We understand this condition better than we did in 2014, but there's still a lot to learn..."

Rochester Epidemiology Program Celebrates 50 Years

CDC Investigating Increased Incidence of Acute Flaccid Myelitis

Begun in 1966 as a collaboration between the Mayo Clinic and the Olmstead Medical Center, the Rochester Epidemiology Program (REP) is a, “unique national resource [that] is unmatched in our country in terms of the depth and breadth of information about a single population," said current REP codirector Dr. Walter Rocca. Indeed, the program has resulted in 2,600 publications and 22 federally funded research initiatives. According to Dr. Linda Williams, Olmstead Medical Center Chief Medical Information Officer, "Pooling our information gives a complete picture of the health and disease of our community.

Patterns of health and illness are used to improve medical care and treatments." And quite a pool they have built. The REP counts 95% of Olmstead County residents as part of its database. Leaders of the program show no signs of resting on their laurels, however. A year-long promotional push to raise the REP’s profile will hopefully result in even more participation. Local news station, KIMT, reports hopes of enrolling 1,000,000 individuals. "We will continue to build our understanding of diseases, health behaviors and environmental contributors, and their impact on future health status," Rocca said. "With this information, we can develop ways to prevent or change the course of diseases, and, hopefully, one day, to eradicate them."

Earlier this month CNN reported on CDC concerns about an increase in cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) seen so far in 2016. Through August of this year, 50 people have been diagnosed in 24 states. "AFM is an illness that can be seen with a variety of different causes. The most famous one is polio, but there are also enteroviruses, which are circulating very broadly in the US and other countries," said Dr. Manisha Patel, CDC AFM team lead. Like polio, AFM is a disease of the nervous system that can lead to paralysis, however, no vaccine currently exists for AFM and there is no cure. "It's important to understand that there's a wide spectrum of severity of this disease," said Dr. Kevin Messacar of Children’s Hospital Colorado. Some cases present with mild weakness in a single extremity compared to extreme cases with complete paralysis in both arms and legs and inability to breathe independently. Interestingly, the first increase in AFM incidence was reported back in 2014 (120 cases; 34 states) and did coincide with a national outbreak of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), however EV-D68 was not consistently detected in specimens collected from individuals with AFM. Since 2014, the CDC has continued to investigate reports of the disease, yet despite extensive testing, there remains no consensus on the cause.

Additionally, it is unclear whether there are risk factors for developing AFM but the majority of cases are in children. "We understand this condition better than we did in 2014,

https://tinyurl.com/jyecppr

10

https://tinyurl.com/zz97baz

- Epi News continue on page 13

Epi News Briefs - continued from page 10 but there's still a lot to learn," said Messacar. "The process is slow, but progress is being made." https://tinyurl.com/hhyzrkn https://tinyurl.com/zcrkhch

By 2020, NASH May Overtake Hepatitis C as Leading Cause of Liver Transplants A piece originally published by Chemical & Engineering News and reprinted by Scientific American sheds light on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a liver disease that is “quietly reaching epidemic proportions across the globe.” In fact, NASH may supplant Hepatitis C (HCV) as the leading cause of liver transplants in just 4 short years. A figure not too surprising given two key risk factors for NASH, obesity and type-2 diabetes, remain on the rise while curative treatments for HCV have now been developed. While the disease progresses slowly over the course of years or even decades, diagnosis is difficult given a lack of symptoms in early stages. Additionally, there is no simple test to detect it. The only reliable measure of liver fibrosis is biopsy, and no drugs have been approved to treat it. Further, “the epidemiology of the disease is not particularly well described,” said Mike Burgess at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

NASH begins as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which more than 5% of the liver is made up of fat that affects 20% of the American population. Regarding the transition to NASH, questions that

linger include understanding the speed of progression from NAFLD to NASH, why only some patients make that progression, and what the risk factors for a full progression to cirrhosis are. At this time, lifestyle changes are the only effective treatment for NASH, but patients generally have trouble maintaining them, hence a high degree of interest from pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs. However, one drug alone won’t likely solve the problem as the disease is quite heterogeneous.

According to Dr. Brent Tetri of St. Louis University’s Liver Center, “Different patients are likely getting to NASH by different routes, such as different genetic predispositions or environmental exposures. I don’t think we’ll get that one blockbuster drug that works for everybody.” https://tinyurl.com/hglogch

"... NASH may supplant Hepatitis C (HCV) as the leading cause of liver transplants in just 4 short years."

■

.

Your Ad Should Be Here Do you have a job, course, conference, book or other resource of interest to the epidemiology community? Advertise with The Epidemiology Monitor and reach 30,000 epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and public health professionals monthly.

"...'the epidemiology of the disease is not particularly well described'..."

Advertising opportunities exist both in this digital publication, on our website and Facebook page, and in our EpiGram emails.

For more information please contact: Ron Aron, Director of Advertising 770.670.1946 ron.aron@epimonitor.net

11

Presidential Candidates continued from page 1 their assessment in addition to Scientific American’s own judgement. The grades were on a scale from zero to five with five being the best score. Clinton fared the best with a total score of 64 followed by Jill Stein with 44. Johnson was next with a score of 30, and Trump mustered a score of 7. Each question is preceded by a statement which helps explain why the issue is important. All 20 questions are listed below, and we have included the actual answers on three we believe will be of interest to our readership.

1. Innovation Science and engineering have been responsible for over half of the growth of the U.S. economy since WWII. But some reports question America’s continued leadership in these areas. What policies will best ensure that America remains at the forefront of innovation?

2. Research Many scientific advances require long-term investment to fund research over a period of longer than the two, four, or six year terms that govern political cycles. In the current climate of budgetary constraints, what are your science and engineering research priorities and how will you balance short-term versus long-term funding?

3. Climate Change The Earth’s climate is changing and political discussion has become divided over both the science and the best response. What are your views on climate change, and how would your administration act on those views?

Clinton

Trump

Johnson

Stein

When it comes to climate change, the science is crystal clear. Climate change is an urgent threat and a defining challenge of our time and its impacts are already being felt at home and around the world. That’s why as President, I will work both domestically and internationally to ensure that we build on recent progress and continue to slash greenhouse gas pollution over the coming years as the science clearly tells us we must.

There is still much that needs to be investigated in the field of “climate change.” Perhaps the best use of our limited financial resources should be in dealing with making sure that every person in the world has clean water.

Perhaps we should focus on eliminating lingering diseases around the world like malaria. Perhaps we should focus on efforts to increase food production to keep pace with an ever-growing world population. Perhaps we should be focused on developing energy sources and power production that alleviates the need for

We accept that climate change is occurring, and that human activity is contributing to it, including through greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately for policymakers - the very activities that appear to contribute to climate change also contribute to mankind’s health and prosperity, so we view with a skeptical eye any attempts to curtail economic activity. We believe that a motivated and informed market will demand efficiency and reduced greenhouse gases, mitigating

Climate change is the greatest existential threat that humanity has ever faced.

Here is how we will act to address it: Enact an emergency Green New Deal to turn the tide on climate change, revive the economy and make wars for oil obsolete. Initiate a WWIIscale national mobilization to halt climate change, the greatest threat to humanity in our history. Create 20 million jobs by transitioning to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030, and investing in public transit, sustainable agriculture, conservation and restoration of critical

I will set three goals that we will achieve within ten years

12

Presidential Candidates continued from page 12 Clinton of taking office and which will make America the clean energy superpower of the 21st century: 





Generate half of our electricity from clean sources, with half a billion solar panels installed by the end of my first term.

Cut energy waste in American homes, schools, hospitals and offices by a third and make American manufacturing the cleanest and most efficient in the world.

Reduce American oil consumption by a third through cleaner fuels and more efficient cars, boilers, ships, and trucks.

To get there, my administration will implement and build on the range of pollution and efficiency standards and clean energy tax incentives that have made the United States a global leader in the battle against climate change. These standards are also essential for protecting the health of our children, saving American households and businesses billions of dollars in energy costs, and creating thousands of good paying jobs.

Trump dependence on fossil fuels.

We must decide on how best to proceed so that we can make lives better, safer and more prosperous.

Scientific American Grade: 0/5

Johnson

Stein

at least some of mankind’s effects. It is a virtual certainty that consumer demands and the marketplace will produce tangible benefits. It is not, however, certain that unilateral regulatory approaches by the U.S. will, in fact, produce benefits that are proportionate to costs.

Nor is it certain that international treaties will produce benefits as developing nations have the most at stake to continue industrialization.

As other countries industrialize, as they have the right to do, we recognize that environmental trade-offs are inevitable.. As extreme poverty wanes in places like India and China, the poor will stop burning excrement or wood. And that will reduce certain types of pollution, while certain greenhouse gases may temporarily increase. But as countries become more developed, industrialized and automated, we believe the marketplace will facilitate the free exchange of new, efficient, carbon-friendly processes and technologies.

And a Johnson-Weld administration will facilitate as much knowledge sharing as possible to speed and spread sustainable, cleaner technology as nations develop.

Scientific American Grade: 2/5

infrastructure, including ecosystems.

• Implement a Just Transition that empowers those communities and workers most impacted by climate change and the transition to a green economy. Ensure that any worker displaced by the shift away from fossil fuels will receive full income and benefits as they transition to alternative work.

• Enact energy democracy based on public, community and worker ownership of our energy system. Treat energy as a human right.

Redirect research funds from fossil fuels into renewable energy and conservation.

Build a nationwide smart electricity grid that can pool and store power from a diversity of renewable sources, giving the nation clean, democraticallycontrolled, energy.

• End destructive energy extraction and associated infrastructure: fracking, tar sands, offshore drilling, oil trains, mountaintop removal, natural gas pipelines, and uranium mines. Halt any investment in fossil fuel infrastructure, including natural gas, and phase out all fossil fuel power plants.

Phase out nuclear power and end nuclear subsidies. End all subsidies for fossil fuels and impose a greenhouse gas fee / tax to charge polluters for

These standards set the floor,

13

Presidential Candidates continued from page 13 Clinton not the ceiling. As President, I will launch a $60 billion Clean Energy Challenge to partner with those states, cities, and rural communities across the country that are ready to take the lead on clean energy and energy efficiency, giving them the flexibility, tools and resources they need to succeed.

Scientific American Grade: 4/5

Trump

Johnson

Stein the damage they have created. • Support a strong enforceable global climate treaty that limits global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius and provides just financial compensation to developing countries. • Support organic and regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and sustainable forestry. • Enact stronger environmental justice laws and measures to ensure that low-income and communities of color are not disproportionately impacted.

Scientific American Grade: 3/5

4. Biodiversity Biological diversity provides food, fiber, medicines, clean water and many other products and services on which we depend every day. Scientists are finding that the variety and variability of life is diminishing at an alarming rate as a result of human activity. What steps will you take to protect biological diversity?

5. The Internet The Internet has become a foundation of economic, social, law enforcement, and military activity. What steps will you take to protect vulnerable infrastructure and institutions from cyber attack, and to provide for national security while protecting personal privacy on electronic devices and the internet?

6. Mental Health Mental illness is among the most painful and stigmatized diseases, and the National Institute of Mental Health estimates it costs America more than $300 billion per year. What will you do to reduce the human and economic costs of mental illness?

7. Energy Strategic management of the US energy portfolio can have powerful economic, environmental, and foreign policy impacts. How do you see the energy landscape evolving over the next 4 to 8 years, and, as President, what will your energy strategy be?

8. Education American students have fallen in many international rankings of science and math performance, and the public in general is being faced with an expanding array of major policy challenges that are heavily influenced by complex science. How would your administration work to ensure all students including

14

Presidential Candidates continued from page 14 women and minorities are prepared to address 21st century challenges and, further, that the public has an adequate level of STEM literacy in an age dominated by complex science and technology?

9. Public Health Public health efforts like smoking cessation, drunk driving laws, vaccination, and water fluoridation have improved health and productivity and save millions of lives. How would you improve federal research and our public health system to better protect Americans from emerging diseases and other public health threats, such as antibiotic resistant superbugs?

Clinton

Trump

Johnson

Stein

America has witnessed enormous successes with some of its major public health initiatives, such as smoking cessation and water fluoridation. Yet, we have a long way to go to strengthen the public health system to provide adequate protection for our communities. Recent events like lead contamination in drinking water in Flint, Michigan, development of antibiotic resistant microbes, uncontrolled spread of Aedes mosquitos that spread tropical diseases like Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya, the growth of opiate addiction, and the continuing need to address HIV make clear the shortcomings of our public health system and the urgent need for improvements.

The implication of the question is that one must provide more resources to research and public health enterprises to make sure we stay ahead of potential health risks. In a time of limited resources, one must ensure that the nation is getting the greatest bang for the buck.

We cannot simply throw money at these institutions and assume that the nation will be well served. What we ought to focus on is assessing where we need to be as a nation and then applying resources to those areas where we need the most work. Our efforts to support research and public health initiatives will have to be balanced with other demands for scarce resources. Working with Congress—the people’s representatives—my administration will work to establish national priorities and then we will work to make sure that adequate resources are assigned to achieve our goals.

Most public health laws and programs are appropriately under the jurisdiction of the states, given that state and local governments are closer to the specific needs and challenges of their populations and regions.

However, we have made clear our belief that, when a public health threat spreads beyond state lines or is clearly beyond the capacity of individual states to handle, there is a role for the federal government to step in, consistent with the federal responsibility to protect citizens from harm.

A Medicare For All single payer healthcare system would place health as the bottom line rather than industry profits, which is fundamental for improving public health.

A Medicare For All system would: ● allow health data to be aggregated on a population-wide scale (much of it is currently held in secret as proprietary information by private companies like health insurers) so that trends and outbreaks could be monitored. ● permit assessment of the health needs of the entire population to be determined so that priorities could be set based on areas of need and funds could be given to institutions that would focus on solutions to priority areas. ● drive public policy to pursue a greater public health and preventative approach because having a healthier population would save money.

But despite these threats, we are not investing in public health preparedness and emergency response the way we should to keep our families and communities safe. A 2015 study found that spending on public heath had fallen more than nine percent since 2008. And uncertain long-term budgets leave our

Scientific American Grade: 0/5

That same guiding principle will dictate our response to such challenges as “superbugs”, possible epidemics, and other threats that extend across the entire nation.

Scientific American Grade: 1/5

15

Presidential Candidates continued from page 15 Clinton public health agencies dependent on emergency appropriations—meaning that when Congress fails to step up, communities are left without the resources they need, vaccines languish in development, and more people get sick.

That is why as President, I will create a Public Health Rapid Response Fund, with consistent, year-to-year budgets, to better enable the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state and local public health departments, hospital systems, and other federal agencies to quickly and aggressively respond to major public health crises and pandemics. I will also ensure that our government has strong leadership and is organized to better support and work with people on the ground facing public health challenges.

Trump

Johnson

Stein â—?

cover every person living in the United States and would remove financial barriers to care. This means that people with infectious diseases and other conditions that impact the population would have access to care when they need it.

Scientific American Grade: 3/5 Though it was noted that her answer is directed more towards public health care rather than public health.

In addition, we need to do more to boost our preparedness for biological threats and bioweapons; to support research for new diagnostic tests, therapeutic treatments, and vaccines for emerging diseases; to build capacity in public health departments; to train the next cadre of public health professionals and ensure that public health and environmental health practices are standard to the educations of medical

16

Presidential Candidates continued from page 16 Clinton

Trump

Johnson

Stein

students; and to provide resources for states and local governments to plan for complex, multi-faceted public health threats, like the impacts of climate change, and build more resilient communities.

Scientific American Grade: 4/5

10. Water The long-term security of fresh water supplies is threatened by a dizzying array of aging infrastructure, aquifer depletion, pollution, and climate variability. Some American communities have lost access to water, affecting their viability and destroying home values. If you are elected, what steps will you take to ensure access to clean water for all Americans?

11. Nuclear Power Nuclear power can meet electricity demand without producing greenhouse gases, but it raises national security and environmental concerns. What is your plan for the use, expansion, or phasing out of nuclear power, and what steps will you take to monitor, manage and secure nuclear materials over their life cycle?

12. Food Agriculture involves a complex balance of land and energy use, worker health and safety, water use and quality, and access to healthy and affordable food, all of which have inputs of objective knowledge from science. How would you manage the US agricultural enterprise to our highest benefit in the most sustainable way?

13. Global Challenges We now live in a global economy with a large and growing human population. These factors create economic, public health, and environmental challenges that do not respect national borders. How would your administration balance national interests with global cooperation when tackling threats made clear by science, such as pandemic diseases and climate change, that cross national borders?

14. Regulations Science is essential to many of the laws and policies that keep Americans safe and secure. How would science inform your administration's decisions to add, modify, or remove federal regulations, and how would you encourage a thriving business sector while protecting Americans vulnerable to public health and environmental threats?

15. Vaccination Public health officials warn that we need to take more steps to prevent international epidemics from viruses such as Ebola and Zika. Meanwhile, measles is resurgent due to decreasing vaccination rates.

How will your administration support vaccine science?

17

Presidential Candidates continued from page 17 Clinton

Trump

Johnson

Stein

Through vaccinations and vaccine science, I am committed to protecting our nation’s children, as well as populations worldwide, from infectious disease threats.

We should educate the public on the values of a comprehensive vaccination program. We have been successful with other public service programs and this seems to be of enough importance that we should put resources against this task.

We believe the current legal infrastructure regarding vaccination is basically sound.

There are currently no federal vaccination requirements, leaving those requirements largely to the states and school districts, consistent with the legal requirement that children attend school.

However, if a national or regional outbreak of disease presents a threat to the general population, the Federal Government has the obligation to assist, and if necessary, impose science and medically - based requirements.

Vaccines are a critical part of our public health system.

Vaccines prevent serious epidemics that would cause harm to many people and that is why they are a foundation to a strong public health system.

Polio is an important example.

So is H Flu - a bacteria that caused serious illness, including meningitis, in 20,000 children a year in the US, before development of the H flu vaccine. We need universal health care as a right to ensure that everyone has access to critical vaccines.

Over the last two decades, we have made extraordinary global gains in reducing childhood illness and deaths through expanded use of vaccines and immunization.

The number of childhood deaths from infections such as measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, and other diseases has dramatically declined in recent years, in large measure due to vaccination. We still have a long way to go, but globally – with the support of Gavi, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other international organizations – I will work hard to press for the elimination of these deadly diseases.

At the same time, the recent measles outbreaks in California's Marin and Orange counties remind us that we cannot be complacent with out own nation's vaccine policies. Measles, for example, remains a serious matter, killing almost 100,000 children annually around the world. As president, I will work closely with the talented physicians, nurses, and scientists in our US Public Health Service to speak out and educate parents about vaccines, focusing on their extraordinary track record in saving lives and pointing out the dangers of not vaccinating our children.

Scientific American Grade: 1/5 Despite his desire to “educate the public,” he has a history of antivaccine statements.

We also need better and greater international engagement in dealing with international outbreaks.

Viruses don’t yield to customs officials, and as we’ve seen with the recent Ebola crisis, a dangerous pandemic is often one international flight ticket away from our country.

Scientific American Grade: 2/5

Experts like Douglas Diekema, MD MPH say that the best way to overcome resistance to vaccination is to acknowledge and address concerns and build trust with hesitant parents. To reverse the problem of declining vaccination rates, we need to increase trust in our public health authorities and all scientific agencies. We can do that by removing corporate influence from our regulatory agencies to eliminate apparent conflicts of interest and show skeptics, in this case vaccineresistant parents, that the motive behind vaccination is protecting their children’s health, not increasing profits for pharmaceutical companies.

Scientific American Grade: 3/5

18

Presidential Candidates continued from page 18 Clinton

Trump

Johnson

Stein

Additionally, the recent outbreaks of Ebola, Zika, and MERS are a wake-up call that we must continue to innovate and develop disease countermeasures. Our scientists have made great progress. Yet there remains a troubling “innovation gap� between early phase vaccine discovery and industrial-scale production and vaccine delivery. We need to engage stakeholders across industry, non-profits, foundations, and government to bridge this gap and spur the development of a new generation of vaccines.

Scientific American Grade: 4/5

16. Space There is a political debate over America’s national approach to space exploration and use. What should America's national goals be for space exploration and earth observation from space, and what steps would your administration take to achieve them?

17. Opioids There is a growing opioid problem in the United States, with tragic costs to lives, families and society. How would your administration enlist researchers, medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies in addressing this issue?

18. Ocean Health There is growing concern over the decline of fisheries and the overall health of the ocean: scientists estimate that 90% of stocks are fished at or beyond sustainable limits, habitats like coral reefs are threatened by ocean acidification, and large areas of ocean and coastlines are polluted. What efforts would your administration make to improve the health of our ocean and coastlines and increase the long-term sustainability of ocean fisheries?

19. Immigration There is much current political discussion about immigration policy and border controls. Would you support any changes in immigration policy regarding scientists and engineers who receive their graduate degree at an American university? Conversely, what is your opinion of recent controversy over employment and the H1-B Visa program?

19

Presidential Candidates continued from page 19 20. Scientific Integrity Evidence from science is the surest basis for fair and just public policy, but that is predicated on the integrity of that evidence and of the scientific process used to produce it, which must be both transparent and free from political bias and pressure. How will you foster a culture of scientific transparency and accountability in government, while protecting scientists and federal agencies from political interference in their work?

1. http://sciencedebate.org/20answers 2. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/grading-the-presidential-candidates-on-science/ â–

20

FACULTY A SSISTANT P ROFESSOR The UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER (UTHSC) Colleges of Nursing and Health Professions invite applications for the position of a full-time position as faculty with a shared appointment within each College (.5 each). This position will be partially grant funded beginning in FY 2018.

UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER UTHSC has educated more than 53,000 health care professionals on three campuses across the state – Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga. The UTHSC campuses include colleges of Health Professions, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. Patient care, professional education and research are carried out at hospitals and other clinical sites across Tennessee. UTHSC is a major medical and research center located in Memphis, Tennessee, which is a medium size, ethnically diverse, culturally rich, family-friendly city with a low cost of living.

Excellent opportunities are available for collaborative research in health services research, clinical trials, human genetics, genomics, epidemiological studies, systems biology, biostatistics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.

QUALIFICATIONS: We seek candidates with a strong training in biostatistics and statistical aspects of data science.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a diverse research portfolio with a mixture of collaborative and independent methodological research. All areas of biostatistics are of interest, but we are especially interested in candidates with a demonstrated interest in clinical trials, large observational studies, complex heterogeneous datasets, high-throughput data, and statistical computing. Minimum qualifications for the position are an MSN in Statistics or Biostatistics and a PhD in a health related area. Candidates with clinical and public health research experience are especially encouraged to apply. Primary criteria for appointment will be experience, demonstrated ability in research, a relevant publication record in peer-reviewed journals, and evidence of successful teaching. The successful applicant will work closely with faculty and staff in the Colleges of Nursing and Health Professions to develop grant applications and conduct research studies.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibilities for this position include: (1) Methodological research, alone or in collaboration with other faculty, that results in peer-reviewed publications: (2) Collaborative research with faculty including assistance with grant applications, and data analysis on grants; and (3) Teaching of 1 -2 graduate courses per year and supervision of graduate students.

Interested applicants should submit (electronically) a copy of their curriculum vitae, a cover letter describing research interests and teaching experience, two letters of recommendation and photocopies of transcripts to Wendy Likes, Ph.D., Dean, College of Nursing, @ mlikes@uthsc.edu or Audrey Zucker-Levin, Assistant Dean of Research, College of Health Professions, @ azuckerl@uthsc.edu, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center .

MULTIPLE POSITIONS GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Faculty Leader in Cancer and Aging Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is conducting a national search for established investigators in cancer and aging. The primary responsibility is to conduct funded research, with exciting opportunities for leadership of new university-wide aging initiatives. Current cancer and aging research includes a robust portfolio of NIH-funded projects on preclinical and clinical models of cancer and aging; mechanisms underlying accelerated aging; and interventions to improve function. Other research includes investigations of survivorship, structures and patterns of care, and policy modeling of interventions designed to optimize outcomes of older cancer patients.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to a career in cancer and aging and expertise in aging-relevant disciplines (e.g., pre-clinical science, gerontology, geriatrics, gero-oncology, neurobiology, neuropsychology, behavioral science, health services research, epidemiology). Must have a clearly established track record of research publications and extramural funding, including current grant funding. This is a tenured or tenure-track position; rank based on experience. Salary and recruitment package commensurate with qualifications. Clinicians encouraged to apply. Washington DC locale and university environment provide excellent opportunities for unique professional collaborations and fulfilling lifestyle.

Start date July 2017; applications accepted until position filled. Interested individuals should submit a brief statement of interest, CV, and the names of three references Cancer and Aging Search Committee, c/o Jeanne Mandelblatt, MD, MPH, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, 3300 Whitehaven St., NW Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20007.

Inquiries may be directed to Jeanne Mandelblatt, MD, MPH via email at mandelbj@georgetown.edu.

Master’s Biostatistician Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics The Cancer Prevention and Control Program in the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center seeks a Master’s biostatistician. The successful candidate will be knowledgeable in biostatistical methods, proficient with statistical programming packages, and possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Under general direction of a faculty biostatistician, this individual will design, conduct, analyze and interpret data from cancer research projects with a focus on large population studies, administrative claims databases, and observational data. The individual will also assist in simulation modeling and have the opportunity to prepare reports and collaborate on scientific papers and grant proposals.

The candidate must possess a Master’s degree in Biostatistics, Statistics or related fields, be proficient in SAS, R, and C++, perform data management, and have a proven track record of experience with bio-statistical aspects of medical research projects and observational data methods. Additional details available at https://jobs.georgetown.edu/PD.php?posNo=20153152

Project Director- Epidemiology The Project Director will provide management and oversight of a large cancer prevention and control grant focusing on public health and policy aspects of breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. Responsibilities involve reviews of epidemiological literature, data analysis of large national datasets, estimating costs of cancer care, documentation of data, maintaining communication among researchers, presenting summary reports, and drafting manuscripts.

Candidates are sought with training in epidemiology and biostatistics, health economics, health services research, health policy, or decision analysis. Minimum requirements include a master’s degree in public health, experience working with large health datasets (e.g., Medicare, NHIS, SEER), and excellent written and oral communication and analytic skills.

Additional details available at: https://jobs.georgetown.edu/PD.php?posNo=20160537

Epidemiology: Tenure-track or Tenured Faculty Positions in Epidemiology Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is accepting applications for multiple faculty positions at Assistant, Associate or Full Professor rank. More than 60 epidemiologists at Vanderbilt conduct clinical and population-based studies, including three large cohort studies in the U.S. and abroad with survey data and biological samples from approximately 225,000 study participants. Areas of ongoing research include diet and nutrition, health behaviors, environmental exposures, reproductive epidemiology, genetic and other biomarkers for disease risk and progression, and racial disparities in health outcomes. The center is particularly interested in expanding its research and training programs in chronic disease epidemiology.

Successful candidates will have a doctorate in epidemiology or a related field with additional training or experience in epidemiologic research, with demonstrated ability to develop and sustain an independent research program in chronic disease epidemiology. Vanderbilt fosters a rich environment of cross-disciplinary collaboration, providing exciting opportunities to work on cohort consortium projects and collaborate on ongoing research projects in epidemiology.

Vanderbilt University, is one of America’s premier private universities. Vanderbilt School of Medicine is ranked #15 on the US News and World Report 2017 list of top medical schools for research in the United States and in the Top 10 for NIH-funded research. Vanderbilt University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Nashville, the state capital, is the largest metropolitan area in Tennessee, with temperate climate, low cost of living, affordable residential areas, vibrant cultural activities and abundant recreational opportunities. To apply, email a cover letter, briefly describing research experience and interests, and curriculum vitae to mailto:kim.kreth@vanderbilt.edu. Address the cover letter to: Dr. Wei Zheng, c/o Kim Kreth, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Ave., 8th floor, Nashville TN 37203-1738.

Chief, Division of Epidemiology Faculty Positions Epidemiology MPH Program TTUHSC The Department of Public Health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas, with co-campuses in Abilene is seeking exceptional faculty candidates in the Discipline of Epidemiology to be located in Abilene.

Texas Tech was recently rated the number one best University to work for by Forbes Magazine. http://www.texastech.edu/careers/ See Requisitions: 5352BR; 5353BR; 5354BR As an EEO/AA employer, the Texas Tech University System and its components will not discriminate in our employment practices based on an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

The Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center seeks an outstanding faculty member to serve as the inaugural Chief of the Division of Epidemiology. The Division will serve as an academic home for epidemiology for the College of Medicine and a nexus for outstanding epidemiology research; it will also provide leadership for our Masters in Epidemiology and Certificate in Clinical Research. The UTHSC Department of Preventive Medicine is a large, interdisciplinary department with faculty in a wide range of disciplines, and funded research addressing, among other things, neurocognitive development, women’s health, obesity, aging, cardiovascular disease, tobacco control, and health care financing and policy. We are also home to the CANDLE Study (Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood), a longitudinal birth cohort study of 1500 mother-child dyads based in Shelby County, TN (www.candlestudy.com) that is in the 11th year of follow up. CANDLE was chosen to participate in the NIH’s recently funded Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. For additional details on this position please visit https://tinyurl.com/hbyjxlm.

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA/V institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.

Assistant / Associate TT Professor Epidemiology

ADVERTISING SPECIAL Reach 6,000 More People Buy a 1/2 or full page ad with web presence in the November or December issues of The Epidemiology Monitor and get a FREE promoted post for your ad on our Facebook page.

Remember the December issue of The Epidemiology Monitor is our annual epidemiology calendar

The Division of Epidemiology in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) seeks a full-time tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor with strong training in epidemiology and quantitative methods. All areas of epidemiology are of interest, but we especially encourage candidates with expertise in chronic disease epidemiology, and those whose research addresses underserved populations (e.g., low income, minority) or health disparities, to apply. Requirements for this position include a doctoral degree in epidemiology and a career interest in research and grantsmanship. Candidates for assistant professor should show promise of future research funding, while candidates for associate professor should already have a strong track record of research funding. For additional details on this position, please visit https://tinyurl.com/znlxmfo . The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA/V institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.

Assistant Professor - Epidemiology The Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a full-time faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor. The position is available immediately and requires an advanced degree in epidemiology or a related field with a highly multidisciplinary background integrating epidemiology, biostatistics, and preventive medicine with a strong understanding of physical activity methodology. The successful candidate will be responsible for independent study design, data analyses, grant writing and writing reports and manuscripts. The successful candidate will be part of a research group involved in designing and analyzing epidemiologic studies and clinical trials. The individual would also be expected to supervise students and staff, assist with teaching, lecture in courses, and mentor graduate students. This position is outside of the tenure stream and is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Applications will be reviewed until position is filled. Send letter of intent, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references to: Position # 0134253, c/o D. Bushey, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, A528 Crabtree Hall, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261; E-mail: dlb22@pitt.edu. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled.

Penn State University Assistant Professor of Nutritional Epidemiology The Department of Nutritional Sciences seeks applications for a tenure-eligible, Assistant Professor in Nutritional Epidemiology with a focus on applied human nutrition research involving health disparities in socially disadvantaged populations. This position is part of a cluster of hires in health disparities in the College of Health and Human Development (http://hhd.psu.edu/hr/careers). The Department and the College consider research on health disparities to be of high priority for improving health in diverse populations. This position will complement 4-5 other faculty hires across 4 departments to facilitate the use of multidisciplinary approaches. The applicant’s research may focus on any of a wide range of human nutrition issues related to national and/or international health disparities. Applicants should have academic training in nutrition or a related field and have demonstrated research expertise in epidemiology, bioinformatics and/or metabolomics related to nutrition. The use of interdisciplinary methodologies and/or experience with the analysis of large datasets will be considered an asset. The National Research Council ranked Penn State’s Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences among the nation’s best. The Department has 24 full-time faculty and 27 research scientists. Current enrollment in the undergraduate program is 273 students, and there are 34 PhD candidates. The Department provides a supportive environment for interdisciplinary translational research spanning applied and basic sciences.

Collaborative opportunities abound not only in the Department of Nutritional Sciences but in other departments in the College of Health and Human Development and in other Penn State colleges. The successful candidate will be appointed as an assistant professor in a tenure track position. S/he will be expected to establish an extramurallyfunded research program and to teach in the Department’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Service expectations will be appropriate to Penn State’s mission as a land grant university. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with strong research and teaching credentials. A doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, MD and/or equivalent) is required and being an RDN is advantageous. Qualified candidates should have had postdoctoral training and provide evidence of original research published in peerreviewed journals and the potential to obtain external support for their independent research program. Applicants should also have experience that demonstrates proficiency in both teaching and in mentoring students. To apply, interested candidates should complete an on-line application and upload (1) a letter of application with a personal statement addressing interests and vision in research and teaching; (2) curriculum vitae along with (3) the names, titles and complete contact information for three professional references who may be contacted. Please address materials to Nutritional Epidemiology Search Committee and direct questions or informal inquiries to the search committee chair, A. Catharine Ross, PhD, Professor and Occupant of the Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair (mailto:acr6@psu.edu). Please indicate “Epidemiology/Health Disparities” in the subject line of email correspondence and cc: the message to Julie Brenneman (jqk7@psu.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary is competitive, commensurate with background and experience. An attractive benefits package is available.

Apply online at http://apptrkr.com/896858 CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/ which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Epidemiological Research The University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) is seeking applications for a tenure-track faculty position at all ranks. We encourage applications from candidates with experience across the spectrum of cancer epidemiology research, from etiological studies to intervention trials, and particularly including molecular, genetic or clinical epidemiology. Applicants must have a PhD or MD with direct training and experience in epidemiological studies. The successful candidate will have demonstrated research excellence in epidemiology, strong interpersonal and communication skills, a record of extramural funding, and interdisciplinary collaborations. The most competitive applicant should have a track record of NIH funding, and will be able to develop an independent epidemiology research program.

The work of the Epidemiology Program focuses on the ethnic/racial differences in cancer risk that exist in Hawaii and the Pacific as a means to better understand the etiology and progression of cancer in order to develop new interventions. The Program has developed a number of important resources for its work, including the Hawaii SEER registry, the well-established Multiethnic Cohort Study, and shared resources in nutrition, biostatistics, analytical biochemistry, metabolomics and high-throughput analysis of genetics and epigenetics.

For the complete job description (which includes the qualifications for the position), search information, and how to apply please go to http://workatuh.hawaii.edu/Jobs/NAdvert/22455/4065169/1/postdate/desc

Program in Environmental Epidemiology Faculty Positions The Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seeks candidates for several Associate, Full, and/or Assistant Professor positions in the tenure track. Applicants must have an M.D. or Ph.D degree.

Senior faculty applicants should have a research program that links the use of exposure science (exposure assessment, biosensors, biomarkers, geographic information systems, cartographic tools) with diseases of environmental etiology (cancer subtypes, lung and airway disease, metabolic diseases, or developmental basis of adult-disease etc.) Expertise in the epidemiological design of retrospective and prospective studies and the analysis of large data sets is desirable. Individuals at the senior level will have the opportunity to lead this program and significant resources can be made available. Depending on the applicant’s credentials and interests, academic appointments are available in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Clinical Departments within the School of Medicine and/or the Department of Pediatrics, based in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Applicants may also be affiliated with the Abramson Cancer Center. Senior applicants (Associate and Full Professor) are expected to have a nationally recognized extramurally funded research program. Junior faculty applicants (Assistant Professor) are expected to have a MD or PhD and several years of postdoctoral epidemiological research experience. At the junior level the applicant must have a disease focus or must be developing new methods for epidemiological studies, and either have grant funding (K-award or equivalent) or should be able to generate their own independent grant support within three years. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae, names of three references and a description of their current or future research program.

We seek candidates who embrace and reflect diversity in the broadest sense. The University of Pennsylvania is an EOE. Minorities/Women/Individuals with disabilities/Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Apply for this position online at: https://tinyurl.com/zwbbm9k

Postdoctoral Positions - Epidemiology The Department of Public Health Sciences and the Center for Epidemiology and Prevention at the University of Chicago seeks candidates for postdoctoral positions in the area Epidemiology with special focus on big data as it relates to medical data science and/or genetics. Applicants should have a doctoral degree in epidemiology or related fields of data science or public health.

Successful candidates will participate in large-scale multi-site studies including the NIH Precision Medicine Cohort Initiative that will recruit participants through the Illinois Precision Medicine Consortium (IPMC).

The general research focus will be understanding the interplay among genetics, environmental exposures, and clinical history in chronic disease risks and their prevention avenues. Candidates with interest and experience in collection and analyses of large-scale population health datasets, especially utilizing medical records and/or genetic data are preferred.

To review the full job description, please visit the Link to Job Posting.

CALLING ALL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS! Use your scientific training to help save American lives! Over 400,000 Americans die each year due, at least in part, to the use of tobacco products. We are actively hiring EPIDEMIOLOGISTS who are up to a challenge to join us in regulating tobacco products marketed in the U.S. Become an integral part at FDA CTP. You can help us make a difference!

For a full position description visit us at www.fda.gov/ctpjobs and “click” on the epidemiologist link under the Office of Science or check out USAJOBS at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/454195500 HHS/FDA/CTP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers a Smoke Free workplace.

ADVERTISING SPECIAL

Your Ad Should Be Here

Reach 6,000 More People

Do you have a job, course, conference, book or other resource of interest to the epidemiology community? Advertise with The Epidemiology Monitor and reach 30,000 epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and public health professionals monthly.

Buy a 1/2 or full page ad with web presence in the November or December issues of The Epidemiology Monitor and get a FREE promoted post for your ad on our Facebook page.

Remember the December issue of The Epidemiology Monitor is our annual epidemiology calendar

Advertising opportunities exist both in this digital publication, on our website and Facebook page, and in our Epi-Gram emails.

For more information please contact: Ron Aron, Director of Advertising 770.670.1946 ron.aron@epimonitor.net

The Epidemiology Monitor in a Digital Version is available FREE to subscribers The Epidemiology Monitor is available exclusively online in the same familiar print format subscribers are accustomed to, and they can read through the publication on their electronic devices in the same manner they did with the print version. In addition, you’ll be able to download and save copies of The Epidemiology Monitor for easy future access. Over the next year we’ll be exploring ways to make this publication available on additional mobile devices.

This publication format provides: ► ► ► ► ►

Easier access to information that is more timely Publication alerts via email Embedded hot links in articles Full color advertising Wider circulation for advertisers

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TODAY AT: http://epimonitor.net/Subscribe.htm