Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsChristopher T Rentsch, PhD, FISPE
Associate Professor AdjunctDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Titles
Associate Professor Adjunct
Positions outside Yale
Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Biography
Dr Rentsch is an epidemiologist specialising in the use of electronic health records, with a focus on establishing real-world evidence for the safety and effectiveness of medications.
In his roles within the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) at Yale and the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Research Group at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, he performs research using some of the largest clinical and genetic cohorts in the world today.
Dr Rentsch has received two prestigious awards from the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) in 2021 (Emerging Leader Award) and 2022 (Special ISPE Award for his "demonstrable impact on public health related to the COVID-19 pandemic"). In 2024, he was named a Fellow of the International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology and elected to the ISPE Board of Directors.
Dr Rentsch is Co-Chair of the VACS Pharmacoepidemiology Core and Program Director for pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance training at LSHTM, including:
- Professional Certificate in Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacovigilance
- Real-World Evidence in Pharmacoepidemiology
Dr Rentsch was co-Editor of a free, online textbook, "COVID-19 Real-World Evidence Primer," which aims to promote careful design and methodological approaches supporting causal inferences on drug safety and effectiveness that guide clinical and regulatory decisions.
In his spare time, he can be found performing around the UK in the London City Brass band.
Last Updated on November 27, 2024.
Appointments
General Internal Medicine
Associate Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (2018)
- MPH
- Emory University (2011)
- BA
- The Ohio State University (2008)
Research
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Research Projects
Prescription Stimulants for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Prescribing Patterns and Associated Consequences in the Veterans Health Administration
General Internal Medicine / , parent organization of Phoenix Lab
ORCID
0000-0002-1408-7907
Publications
2026
Beyond data and technology: the need for new thinking to enable the era of precision prevention
Tsakiroglou M, Harish P, Hemingway H, Blagden S, Gardner S, O’Connor D, Rentsch C, Ford G, Saoulidis A, Maclean R, Denniston A, Pirmohamed M. Beyond data and technology: the need for new thinking to enable the era of precision prevention. BMC Medicine 2026 PMID: 42135719, DOI: 10.1186/s12916-026-04938-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrecision preventionHealth maintenancePopulation-level risk factorsPublic health prevention strategiesHealth prevention strategiesCase-control designHealth trajectoriesExposome dataHealthcare systemCausal pathwaysChronic diseasesPrevention strategiesImplementation strategiesOutcome assessmentPersonalised predictionsArtificial intelligenceRisk factorsRisk predictionDisease continuumPreventionMultifactorial chronic diseaseShift healthcareReal-world dataDecision-support systemMinimal exposureRisk of type 2 diabetes mellitus after treatment with direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus in people with HIV
Chalouni M, Torgersen J, Rentsch C, Van Santen D, Jarrin I, Klein M, Young J, Gill M, Epstein R, Linas B, Zangerle R, Surial B, Nemeth J, Touloumi G, Papadopoulos A, Wittkop L, Van Der Valk M, Boyd A, Monforte A, Puoti M, Logan R, Rein S, Miro J, Berenguer J, Hernán M, Lodi S. Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus after treatment with direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus in people with HIV. AIDS 2026, 40: 1073-1081. PMID: 41879095, PMCID: PMC13111791, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000004499.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRisk of type 2 diabetes mellitusRisk of T2DMHIV mono-infectionHIV-HCV co-infectionRisk factorsType 2 diabetes mellitusHIV-HCVMono-infectionDiabetes risk factorsHIV-CAUSAL CollaborationInverse probability weightingHIV-HCV co-infected individualsT2DM riskCo-InfectionCo-infected individualsDirect-acting antiviralsPrevention strategiesNo risk factorsRisk peopleHepatitis C virusHCV diagnosisObservational studyProbability weightingHIVDiabetes monitoringBridging genomics and pharmacoepidemiology to expand treatment options for alcohol use disorder
Rentsch C, Malone S, Shi M, Setzer M, Piserchia Z, Winterlind E, Farokhnia M, Tazare J, Justice A, Fiellin D, Leggio L, Kranzler H, Gray J. Bridging genomics and pharmacoepidemiology to expand treatment options for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2026, 50: e70247. PMID: 41811207, DOI: 10.1111/acer.70247.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGenome-wide association studiesElectronic health recordsAlcohol use disorderAlcohol consumptionUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsDepartment of Veterans AffairsUse disorderBridge genomicsPublic health problemHealth recordsDrug repurposing candidatesNetwork-based analysisProblematic alcohol useGene identificationVeterans AffairsAssociation studiesEHR dataEffects of baclofenTarget proteinsGenomic findingsUnited States DepartmentAlcohol useHealth problemsCost-effective strategyGenesQuantifying selection bias due to unobserved patients in pharmacoepidemiologic studies of severe COVID-19 cohorts
Bokern M, Rentsch C, Quint J, Schultze A, Douglas I. Quantifying selection bias due to unobserved patients in pharmacoepidemiologic studies of severe COVID-19 cohorts. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2026, 26: 34. PMID: 41540342, PMCID: PMC12896000, DOI: 10.1186/s12874-025-02732-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPotential selection biasCOVID-19 deathsNon-admissionOdds of deathChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseQuantitative bias analysisSelection biasNon-hospitalised patientsConfidence intervalsNon-hospitalisedCase studyClinical Practice Research Datalink AurumDeath rateTarget populationPharmacoepidemiological studiesICS/LABA usersInverse probabilityBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemicHospital pressureSensitivity of studiesCOVID-19LABA/long-acting muscarinic antagonistsDeath RegistrySevere COVID-19Inverse probability of treatment weighting
2025
Disentangling the relationship between glucose, insulin and brain health: A UK Biobank study
Mason A, Fatih N, Sofat R, Rentsch C, Smeeth L, Bhaskaran K, Chaturvedi N, Garfield V. Disentangling the relationship between glucose, insulin and brain health: A UK Biobank study. Diabetes Obesity And Metabolism 2025, 28: 1741-1749. PMID: 41388643, PMCID: PMC12890726, DOI: 10.1111/dom.70353.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsGenome-wide association studiesWeighted median estimatorDementia riskMendelian randomisationBrain healthMendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sumAssociated with poorer brain healthInverse-variance weighted MRTwo-sample Mendelian randomisationAlzheimer's riskPleiotropy residual sumAlzheimer's dementia riskUK Biobank studyFasting GlucoseIndependent genome-wide association studiesHyperintensity volumeWhite matter hyperintensity volumeFasting insulinMR-EggerMR-PRESSOGenetic instrumentsMR assumptionsGlycaemic traitsBiobank studyLack of associationAssociations Between Prior and Current Unhealthy Alcohol Use and Liver Morbidity Risk and Mortality Among Veterans With a History of Hepatitis C Who Have Achieved Sustained Virological Response
Feelemyer J, Ban F, Braithwaite R, Bhattacharya D, Caniglia E, Justice A, Lim J, Re V, Scheidell J, Rentsch C, Khan M. Associations Between Prior and Current Unhealthy Alcohol Use and Liver Morbidity Risk and Mortality Among Veterans With a History of Hepatitis C Who Have Achieved Sustained Virological Response. Journal Of Viral Hepatitis 2025, 33: e70116. PMID: 41376520, DOI: 10.1111/jvh.70116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSustained virological responseAlcohol use disorderRisk of hepatic decompensationAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-ConsumptionHistory of alcohol use disorderHepatic decompensationHigh-risk consumptionVirological responseAlcohol consumptionAlcohol useHistory of hepatitis CDirect-acting antiviral treatmentLow-risk alcohol consumptionHigh-risk alcohol consumptionHIV Co-InfectionAlcohol use categoriesRisk alcohol consumptionUnhealthy alcohol useCox proportional hazards modelsProportional hazards modelAUD diagnosisHCV infectionHepatitis CAntiviral treatmentHCV treatmentHigh‐Throughput Screening Using the Self‐Controlled Tree‐Based Scan Statistic to Identify Medications Associated With Hospitalization for Severe Acute Liver Injury
Re V, Newcomb C, Carbonari D, Leonard C, Rentsch C, Maro J. High‐Throughput Screening Using the Self‐Controlled Tree‐Based Scan Statistic to Identify Medications Associated With Hospitalization for Severe Acute Liver Injury. Pharmacoepidemiology And Drug Safety 2025, 34: e70275. PMID: 41345999, PMCID: PMC12678845, DOI: 10.1002/pds.70275.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSevere acute liver injuryChronic liver diseaseAcute liver injuryAcid suppressionLiver injuryTree-based scan statisticChronic liver disease patientsVeterans Health Administration dataHepatotoxicity signalsCase reportHealth administrative dataHepatotoxic drugsAppetite stimulationLiver diseasePatientsPotential associationChemotherapyDrugDiseasePharmacoepidemiological studiesScan statisticAntiemeticsHospitalCase-crossover designHigh-throughput screeningConcurrent Alcohol Use and the Relative Risk of Community‐Acquired Pneumonia Associated With Anticholinergic and Non‐Anticholinergic Neurocognitively Active Medication Receipt: A National Nested Case–Control Study Among US Veterans
Wang W, Crothers K, Akgün K, Gordon K, Rodriguez‐Barradas M, Womack J, Thompson J, Justice A, Rentsch C. Concurrent Alcohol Use and the Relative Risk of Community‐Acquired Pneumonia Associated With Anticholinergic and Non‐Anticholinergic Neurocognitively Active Medication Receipt: A National Nested Case–Control Study Among US Veterans. Pharmacoepidemiology And Drug Safety 2025, 34: e70279. PMID: 41340437, PMCID: PMC12676203, DOI: 10.1002/pds.70279.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNested Case-Control StudyConcurrent alcohol useOdds ratioCase-control studyAlcohol useRelative riskCommunity-acquired pneumoniaAt-risk consumptionRisk of community-acquired pneumoniaIncident CaP casesCohort entry dateActive medicationMedication receiptUS veteransSelf-report measuresMedication usePrimary exposureAlcohol consumptionConsuming alcoholHospital admissionCohort studyMedication typeIndex dateLogistic regressionIncidence densityApplying High‐Dimensional Propensity Scores in a Study of Inhaled Corticosteroids and COVID‐19 Outcomes
Bokern M, Tazare J, Rentsch C, Quint J, Douglas I, Schultze A. Applying High‐Dimensional Propensity Scores in a Study of Inhaled Corticosteroids and COVID‐19 Outcomes. Pharmacoepidemiology And Drug Safety 2025, 34: e70248. PMID: 41287049, PMCID: PMC12644305, DOI: 10.1002/pds.70248.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHigh-dimensional propensity scoreClinical Practice Research DatalinkInternational ClassificationClinical Practice Research Datalink AurumTherapy usersInternational Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codesCOVID-19 deathsPropensity scoreCOVID-19 outcomesPharmacoepidemiological studiesSNOMED-CT codesAssociation of ICCOVID-19 hospitalisationChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseWeak evidenceResidual confoundingObstructive pulmonary diseaseControl confoundingUnmeasured confoundersRevision codesICS usersCOVID-19ConfoundingIPT-weightedCox regressionRisk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in People With HIV
van Santen D, Chalouni M, Berenguer J, Jarrin I, Miró J, Klein M, Young J, Torgersen J, Rentsch C, Gill M, Epstein R, Nunes D, Surial B, Rauch A, Touloumi G, Papadopoulos A, Wittkop L, Gilbert C, Leleux O, van der Valk M, Boyd A, Monforte A, Puoti M, Zangerle R, Gisinger M, Logan R, Rein S, Hernán M, Lodi S. Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in People With HIV. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2025, 82: e942-e950. PMID: 41253696, PMCID: PMC13075511, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaf635.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsDirect-acting antiviralsAdvanced liver fibrosisDirect-acting antivirals initiationHIV-HCV co-infectionProbability of hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma diagnosisHepatocellular carcinomaHepatitis C virusFollow-upLiver fibrosisCo-InfectionPost-DAADirect-acting antiviral treatmentRisk of hepatocellular carcinomaHepatitis C virus infectionHBV co-infectionHepatocellular carcinoma riskHuman immunodeficiency virusC virus infectionLoss to follow-upEligible individualsHIV-HCVHCC riskAntiretroviral therapyImmunodeficiency virus
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity COVID-19 Core
2021 - PresentAdvisory BoardsCo-ChairDetailsVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), US Dept of Veterans Affairsactivity Pharmacoepidemiology (PEPI) Core
2022 - PresentAdvisory BoardsCo-ChairDetailsVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), US Dept of Veterans Affairsactivity ISPE Board of Directors
2024 - PresentAdvisory BoardsBoard of DirectorsDetailsInternational Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE)activity Anti(retro)viral Therapy Workgroup
2015 - 2022Advisory BoardsCo-ChairDetailsVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), US Dept of Veterans Affairsactivity Polypharmacy Workgroup
2019 - 2022Advisory BoardsCo-ChairDetailsVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), US Dept of Veterans Affairs
Honors
honor FISPE (Fellow of the International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology)
04/22/2024International AwardInternational Society of Pharmacoepidemiologyhonor Special ISPE Award for Contributions to Public Health Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic
08/27/2022International AwardInternational Society for PharmacoepidemiologyDetailsUnited Kingdomhonor Emerging Leader Award
08/25/2021International AwardInternational Society for PharmacoepidemiologyDetailsUnited Kingdomhonor Best Reviewer Award
07/01/2017International AwardPharmacoepidemiology & Drug SafetyDetailsUnited Kingdom
News
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News
- January 02, 2025
Yale Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Promotions and Appointments (January 2025)
- March 11, 2024
Excess Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- February 02, 2023Source: NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program
Spironolactone as a potential new pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: convergent evidence from rodent and human studies