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Laura Bothwell

PhD, MPhil, MA
Associate Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)

Contact Information

Laura Bothwell, PhD, MPhil, MA

Research Summary

Dr. Bothwell's research explores social, historical, and ethical dimensions of epidemiology-- specifically randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Her current book project examines how international and national policies have influenced trial rigor and ethics, protections of vulnerable trial subjects, and participant diversity in RCTs. She has also explored trends and ethical dimensions of adaptive design clinical trials, as well as the ethics of pharmacoepidemiologic research.

Research Interests

Bioethics; Environment and Public Health; Epidemiology; Ethics; History; History of Medicine; Human Rights; Political Systems; Public Health; Social Justice; Social Medicine; Global Health; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Pharmacoepidemiology; Government Regulation; Vulnerable Populations; Policy; Social Determinants of Health; Public Health Systems Research; Adaptive Clinical Trials as Topic

Public Health Interests

Bioethics; Environmental Health; Ethics; Global Health; Health Policy; History of Medicine and Science; Infectious Diseases; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice

Selected Publications

  • Social and Scientific History of Randomized Controlled TrialsBothwell LE, Kuo W-H, Jones DS, Podolsky, SH. Social and Scientific History of Randomized Controlled Trials. In Principles and Practice of Clinical Trials. Ed. S. Piantadosi and C. Meinert. Springer, 2020.
  • Bioethical Issues in Pharmacoepidemiologic ResearchBothwell LE, Richterich A, Greene, JA. Bioethical Issues in Pharmacoepidemiologic Research. In Pharmacoepidemiology, 6th Edition. Ed. B. L. Strom, S. E. Kimmel, and S. Hennessy. Hoboken: Wiley, 2019.
  • Innovation and Tribulation in the History of Randomized Controlled Trials in SurgeryBothwell LE, Jones DS. Innovation and Tribulation in the History of Randomized Controlled Trials in Surgery. Annals of Surgery 2019 October.
  • Adaptive design clinical trials: a review of the literature and ClinicalTrials.gov.Bothwell LE, Avorn J, Khan NF, Kesselheim AS. Adaptive design clinical trials: a review of the literature and ClinicalTrials.gov. BMJ Open 2018, 8:e018320.
  • The Real-World Ethics of Adaptive-Design Clinical Trials.Bothwell LE, Kesselheim AS. The Real-World Ethics of Adaptive-Design Clinical Trials. The Hastings Center Report 2017, 47:27-37.
  • Assessing the Gold Standard--Lessons from the History of RCTs.Bothwell LE, Greene JA, Podolsky SH, Jones DS. Assessing the Gold Standard--Lessons from the History of RCTs. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2016, 374:2175-81.
  • The Emergence of the Randomized, Controlled Trial.Bothwell LE, Podolsky SH. The Emergence of the Randomized, Controlled Trial. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2016, 375:501-4.
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