Nominations now open for the Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology 

Nominations are now open for the Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology. IEA members in good standing can submit nominations until 15 October 2023 using the fillable PDF form below.

Sir Richard Doll, CH OBE FRS (1912-2005) was a British physician who became an epidemiologist in the mid-20th century and made important contributions to the discipline. He was a pioneer in research linking smoking to health problems, and along with others, was credited with first proving that smoking caused lung cancer. He also carried out pioneering work on the relationship between radiation and leukemia, as well as that between asbestos and lung cancer, and alcohol and breast cancer.

IEA awards The Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology triennially at the IEA World Congress of Epidemiology to commemorate Richard Doll's legacy and his achievements in epidemiology. The prize is given to a living epidemiologist of the highest scientific standard, who has advanced our understanding of the determinants of a disease of importance for health in populations through a body of research that may involve a series of studies, rather than a single publication. The next prize will be awarded during the 2024 World Congress of Epidemiology, 24-27 September in Cape Town, South Africa.

Previous recipients of the Prize include Dr. Nubia Munoz, Prof. David Barke, Prof. George Davey Smith, and Cesar Victora. Prize winners are given an opportunity to address participants of the Congress in a 30-minute plenary session on a topic of his/her own choice.  A cash prize is also presented along with a plaque.

Special LMIC Rates MCRI offers online "Observational Studies - Modern Concepts & Analytics Course," 9-13 October.

Observational studies are central to modern health research. They are key to addressing descriptive and predictive research questions, to quantify disease burden and enable risk stratification. Observational studies are also widely used to address "causal" questions, for example about the effect of treatments, policies, behaviors and other exposures on health outcomes. This course reviews the distinction between the three types of research questions (descriptive, predictive, and causal) and then provides a comprehensive introduction to causal inference and a guide to using regression to address causal questions. An overview of key concepts in the study of descriptive and predictive questions is also provided. The course has a strong emphasis on the design and planning of analyses – a critical step to strengthen the quality of conclusions we draw from data.

The Causal Inference group within the Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit (CEBU) at Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne will host its biannual course “Observational Studies: Modern concepts & analytic methods” between Monday 9^th October and 13^th October 2023 online (via zoom). Registration is open to all, with special rates offered for applicants from low- or middle-income countries. Find out more by visiting the website https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/researcher-training-resources/cebu-short-courses-training/research-methods-courses/observational-studies [mcri.edu.au] or contacting cebu.admin@mcri.edu.au.

Upcoming Conferences in Europe

 

6-8 September 2023 

Society for Social Medicine & Population Health, 67th Annual Scientific Meeting | University of Newcastle
Abstract submissions are due by 23:59 (GMT) Tuesday, 28th February 2023. 

8-11 November 2023

16th European Public Health Conference 2023 | Dublin, Ireland
Abstract submissions are due by 18:00 (GMT), Monday, 1 May 2023

Cesar Victora named winner of 2021 Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology

Cesar Victora, Emeritus Professor of Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Brazil, and Director, International Center for Equity in Health, has been named the winner of the 2021 Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology.

The Richard Doll Prize is awarded by IEA in commemoration of Richard Doll’s legacy and his achievements in epidemiology. The prize is for a body of scientific research in epidemiology that has advanced understanding of conditions that are important for population health.

Victora's research has driven global policies on breastfeeding, child nutrition and inequalities in health. He has applied and advanced epidemiological methods to maternal and child health, initially in his home country and later in dozens of low and middle-income countries. His studies in the 1980s led to the discovery of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for infant survival, which shaped World Health Organization policies in 1991. His leading role in the creation of the WHO Child Growth Standards led to growth curves that are now used in over 140 countries. He leads the Pelotas Birth Cohort Studies (1982, 1993, 2004 and 2015) which have made major contributions to recognition of the importance of early nutrition for adult health and human capital. More recently, he became a global leader in the study of inequalities in maternal and child health, and his team provides global analyses that are widely used by international organizations.

Having opted to remain in Brazil throughout his career, he has honorary appointments at Oxford University, Harvard University and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He is a member of the editorial board of many journals, including The Lancet. In Brazil, he founded the Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology at the Federal University of Pelotas, a remote location without any research activity until the 1980s and led this program to become the top-ranked program in the Ministry of Education’s scoring system for over 80 Public Health programs in the country.

Early Career Epidemiologist Elections Conclude

The election of regional Early Career Epidemiologist representatives has concluded. Winning candidates for each region are:

• Dr. Moleen Dzikiti, Africa Region
• Rajini Nagrani, Europe Region
• Ghinwa El Hayek, MPH, Middle East North Africa Region
• Astou Thiam, North America Region
• Dr. Ritu Pradhan Sharma, South East Asia Region, and member of IEA Council
• Dr. Gazaleh Dashti, Western Pacific Region

A candidate was not elected in the Latin American & Caribbean Region.

IEA defines Early Career Epidemiologists as those currently enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate course of study in a subject relevant to epidemiology, or who have worked in the field of epidemiology for not more than ten years.

Elected representatives will serve for the next three years starting at the conclusion of the 2021 IEA World Congress of Epidemiology in Melbourne, Australia (http://ieaweb.org). Terms will end at the conclusion of the 2024 World Congress of Epidemiology.

Per IEA’s Constitution and Bylaws, the representative elected from the region that will be hosting the next World Congress of Epidemiology will become the ECE Council Member. This person will liaise with the ECE representatives in all regions, formulate proposals for ECE activities, and represent the interests of ECE members to Council. The 2024 WCE will be held in Goa, India.