Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations and the application of this study to control disease and promote health. Biostatistics is the science of collecting, summarizing, presenting, and interpreting medical, biological, or health data. Our research experts use epidemiology and biostatistics to provide evidence-based recommendations and inform healthcare interventions and disease prevention strategies.

Research Spotlight

Dr. Isha Agarwal is an emergency medicine physician and epidemiologist whose research seeks to understand the impact of night shift work. Along with MaineHealth co-authors Drs. Cara Frankenfeld and Abby Fleisch, Dr. Agarwal recently published work evaluating rotating night shift work, gestational diabetes and risk of type 2 diabetes among nurses in the United States. In this work, cumulative years of rotating night shift work were modestly associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, overall, and among nurses without a history of gestational diabetes. Dr. Agarwal continues her work in this area and is evaluating how rotating night shift work influences risk of gestational diabetes in nurses.

Learn more about Dr. Agarwal