In recognition of his academic statistical leadership in clinical trials, and expert statistical consultation to national and international governmental agencies and the pharmaceutical industry, Robert W. Makuch, professor of Public Health in the Biostatistics Division of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, has been elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA).
Makuch is among 54 ASA members elected fellows of the Association at their 163rd annual meeting to honor outstanding professional contribution to and leadership in the field of statistical science. The designation of Fellow has been a great honor in the society for nearly 90 years, and no more than one-third of one percent of ASA members are elected Fellows of the ASA.
Makuch was cited for his innovative contributions to the methodological design and analysis of clinical trials, and for outstanding administration of an academic biostatistics division.
Of particular interest to Makuch is the appropriate design and analysis of active control equivalence studies. He described in a series of papers how controls should be selected, how the sample size for these studies is determined and what constitutes appropriate methods of analysis.
His approach, used throughout the world, provides the basis for developing new treatments that are similar in efficacy to existing treatments but have a better safety profile. These developments have been directed primarily in the areas of cancer, pediatrics and HIV.
Makuch is also active in training students in clinical trials, both nationally and internationally. The Japanese government recently invited him to participate in the creation of a five-year program to train new biostatisticians and he gave an invited presentation at the inauguration of a new medical research center in Japan.
Contact
Karen N. Peart
203-432-1326