Haidong Lu, PhD

Dr. Haidong Lu is an epidemiologist and methodologist who is passionate about bridging the disciplines of epidemiology, statistics, data science, population health, and clinical research. His research focuses on leveraging appropriate health data science techniques to draw causal inferences from observational data (e.g., electronic health records). Through this approach, he strives to generate accurate and impactful real-world evidence that informs clinical and regulatory decision-making. In addition to observational studies, he is dedicated to enhancing methodologies for analyzing randomized controlled trials, particularly in addressing challenges related to non-compliance and generalizability. Dr. Lu is also interested in artificial intelligence in learning health systems. His current substantive research interests center around substance use and pharmacoepidemiology. Dr. Lu earned a PhD in Epidemiology (major) and Biostatistics (minor) from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, and a master's degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is also clinically trained with a degree in pharmacy, further reinforcing his diverse and extensive background in health-related fields.