Statistical Methods for the Design and Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

This course covers a wide range of topics pertaining to the design and statistical analysis of observational health studies. The course is divided into three areas: 1) classical epidemiological study designs including cross-sectional, cohort, population and family-based case-control studies, and issues related to selection of controls; 2) advanced epidemiological study designs including case-cohort, nested case-control, and multiphase sampling designs; 3) causal inference using propensity scores with matching, stratification and regression adjustments, marginal structural models, and instrumental variables. Studies will be discussed from the epidemiological literature and other sources in the public domain. Simulations and data analyses will be carried out using software (e.g. R or SAS). Students will be trained and assessed in part based on the preparation of reports and delivery of presentations.