Best Biostatistics Podcasts (2025)

1
Introduction to adaptive designs and ICH E20 29:36

Play Pause

22h ago29:36

29:36

A Conversation with Kaspar Rufibach Why You Should Listen: If you’ve ever wondered what adaptive designs really are, when they make sense, and how ICH E20 will influence our work as statisticians, this episode will give you a clear, practical overview. You’ll learn: ✔ Why adaptive designs often save valuable time—and what organizational barriers ke…

1
Scary Bridge Study: Can fear make you horny? 1:03:13

1d ago1:03:13

1:03:13

What if a haunted house makes your date look hotter? This week we dive into the infamous Scary Bridge Study — the 1970s classic that launched a thousand pop-psych takes on fear and lust. It’s the one with the swaying bridge, pretty “research assistant,” and phone number scrawled on torn paper. The study became legend, but how sturdy were its stats?…

1
Ultramarathons: Can vitamin D protect your bones? 58:50

16d ago58:50

58:50

Ultramarathoners push their bodies to the limit, but can a giant pre-race dose of vitamin D really keep their bones from breaking down? In this episode, we dig into a trial that tested this claim – and found a statistical endurance event of its own: six highly interchangeable papers sliced from one small study. Expect missing runners, recycled figu…

1
Leadership, Influence & Presenting: Human Skills That Make Statisticians Effective 36:15

22d ago36:15

36:15

A conversation with Alexander Schacht and Alun Bedding Why You Should Listen: ✔ Hear my personal reflections on 456 episodes and the evolution of this podcast. ✔ Learn a simple, values-based view of leadership that applies no matter your level. ✔ Discover how to influence people—not departments—and build trust. ✔ See why contextual teaching beats g…

1
EP 166: Dr Karl Daniel, Telemedicine as a New Approach to Healthcare Access in Kenya 40:36

22d ago40:36

40:36

Send us a text Imagine walking 50km to see a doctor versus getting treated from your phone. In Kenya, there’s just one doctor for every 5,000 people, far below the WHO’s recommended standard. Long queues, high costs, and staff shortages make access difficult. In this episode of Rooted in Health II, Anne Chisa speaks with Dr. Karl Daniel, a medical …

1
P-Values: Are we using a flawed statistical tool? 1:13:26

1M ago1:13:26

1:13:26

P-values show up in almost every scientific paper, yet they’re one of the most misunderstood ideas in statistics. In this episode, we break from our usual journal-club format to unpack what a p-value really is, why researchers have fought about it for a century, and how that famous 0.05 cutoff became enshrined in science. Along the way, we share st…

1
Top 8: The Single Arm Studies and What are the Alternatives? 45:32

1M ago45:32

45:32

Interview with Anja Schiel Why You Should Listen: f you’ve ever wondered whether single-arm studies are “good enough” for regulators or HTA bodies, this episode will challenge your assumptions. Anja Schiel, one of Europe’s leading voices at the regulator–HTA interface, explains why comparisons matter, where single-arm designs break down, and what s…

1
EP 165: Maboang Matlou, The Miracle Tree: Transforming Agriculture with Moringa 30:55

1M ago30:55

30:55

Send us a text Maboang Matlou, founder of Lefakong Farm, shares her journey transforming a family farm into a thriving moringa enterprise that addresses nutrition, climate change and economic development simultaneously. Maboang's story is a masterclass in agricultural innovation and perseverance. Get started with moringa farming by listening to Mab…

1
Top 7: How to work with a physician within Pharma to become a valuable partner 26:40

1M ago26:40

26:40

Discussion with Benjamin Piske and Alexander Schacht Why You Should Listen: Working with physicians isn’t always easy. Different mindsets, expectations, and communication styles can get in the way. In this episode, you’ll hear how to: ✔ Build trust and respect with physicians in pharma ✔ Communicate effectively across disciplines ✔ Know when to sup…

1
Exercise and Cancer: Does physical activity improve colon cancer survival? 49:04

1M ago49:04

49:04

Exercise has long been hailed as cancer-fighting magic, but is there hard evidence behind the hype? In this episode, we tackle the CHALLENGE trial, a large phase III study of colon cancer patients that tested whether prescribed exercise could improve cancer-free survival. We translate clinical jargon into plain English, show why ratio statistics ma…

1
Top 6: What is EU HTA and why should statisticians care? 36:08

2M ago36:08

36:08

Interview with Lara Wolfson and Anders Gorst-Rasmussen Why You Should Listen: ✔ EU HTA is becoming reality: Joint Clinical Assessments begin soon with oncology/ATMPs and will expand to all medicines over the next years. ✔ Statisticians are central: Re-analyses, indirect comparisons, RWE, and quality-of-life analyses will be required—often beyond wh…

1
Top 5: The analysis of adverse events done right 52:45

2M ago52:45

52:45

Interview with Kaspar Rufibach & Jan Beyersmann What You’ll Learn: ✔ Why analyzing adverse events differently from efficacy endpoints creates problems. ✔ How differing follow-up times and censoring bias AE results. ✔ The role of the Aalen–Johansen estimator and why it should be standard practice. ✔ What the SAVVY collaboration achieved by uniting p…

1
Age Gaps: How much does age matter in dating? 49:42

2M ago49:42

49:42

Are we all secretly ageist when it comes to dating? We put the stereotype that older men prefer younger women under the microscope using data from thousands of blind dates. What we found surprised us: the “age penalty” was real but microscopic, women wanted younger partners too, and hard age cutoffs weren’t so hard after all. Along the way, we unpa…

1
EP 164: Dr. Keabetswe Ncube, Achieving Sustainability in Agriculture through Genetics 58:48

2M ago58:48

58:48

Send us a text What if the future of African agriculture lies not in expensive technology, but in understanding the hidden genetic code of livestock that have survived drought, disease, and harsh conditions for generations? Dr. Keabetswe Ncube takes us on a journey into agrigenomics - the science of using genetics to improve crops and livestock for…

1
Transforming Communities Through Resilience Science with Dr. Wendy Ellis 47:21

2M ago47:21

47:21

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Wendy Ellis, Assistant Professor of Global Health at George Washington University and Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience. Together, they explore how resilience science and systems-level thinking can drive lasting change for communities impacted b…

1
Replay: R vs SAS - which is the better tool in pharmaceutical research 42:29

2M ago42:29

42:29

Interview with Sam Gardner & Thomas Neitmann What You’ll Learn: ✔ How Thomas and Sam were first introduced to SAS and R — and how their early experiences shaped their preferences. ✔ Key differences in learning curves and the resources available for beginners. ✔ How each tool fares in day-to-day work and long-term maintainability. ✔ Strengths and we…

1
Your Brain on AI: Is ChatGPT making us mentally lazy? 1:14:07

2M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

ChatGPT is melting our brainpower, killing creativity, and making us soulless — or so the headlines imply. We dig into the study behind the claims, starting with quirky bar charts and mysterious sample sizes, then winding through hairball-like brain diagrams and tens of thousands of statistical tests. Our statistical sleuthing leaves us with questi…

1
Ataxia, Advocacy, and Accelerating Research: Inside the National Ataxia Foundation 51:33

3M ago51:33

51:33

Welcome back to Research Renaissance, presented by the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust. In this episode, host Deborah Westphal explores the cutting edge of rare disease research with special guests Andrew Rosen, CEO of the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), and Dr. Lauren Moore, NAF’s Chief Scientific Officer. Together, they unpack how the NAF has ev…

1
Replay: The Chimp Paradox 41:35

3M ago41:35

41:35

Interview with Stuart McGuire What You’ll Learn: ✔ How to recognize when your “chimp” is in control — and what to do about it ✔ The difference between emotional, rational, and programmed brain responses ✔ How to manage anxiety and fear in high-stakes situations like meetings and presentations ✔ Why we often overwork out of tribal guilt — and how to…

1
Unlocking Parkinson’s Potential: The Brain-Immune Link with Dr. Adithya Gopinath 35:16

3M ago35:16

35:16

In this groundbreaking episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal reconnects with Dr. Adithya Gopinath, University of Florida, to explore a game-changing discovery in Parkinson’s research: a direct connection between dopamine neurons in the brain and the peripheral immune system, specifically the spleen. Dr. Gopinath shares how his lab’…

1
EP 163: How Aid Cuts Affect Patients, Research and Jobs in Africa 43:50

3M ago43:50

43:50

Send us a text What happens when life-saving funding disappears? How do healthcare systems adapt? Can domestic resources fill the gap? The sudden freeze of US aid disbursements in January sent shockwaves through healthcare systems across Africa. Six months later, what was once a policy announcement has turned into a devastating reality for millions…

1
Replay: Is data science something for you? 26:19

3M ago26:19

26:19

Interview with Yannis Jemiai & Rajat Mukherjee What You’ll Learn: ✔ How two leading statisticians transitioned into data science ✔ The key differences (and overlaps) between data science, statistics, big data, and machine learning ✔ Why data science is more than hype—and why statisticians are needed more than ever ✔ The role of visualization and st…

1
The Backfire Effect: Can fact-checking make false beliefs stronger? 58:26

3M ago58:26

58:26

Can correcting misinformation make it worse? The “backfire effect” claims that debunking myths can actually make false beliefs stronger. We dig into the evidence — from ghost studies to headline-making experiments — to see if this psychological plot twist really holds up. Along the way, we unpack interaction effects, randomization red flags, and wh…

1
The AI Cure: How Drug Repurposing is Saving Lives 51:03

3M ago51:03

51:03

In this episode of Research Renaissance, Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Grant Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Every Cure — a nonprofit revolutionizing how we treat disease using artificial intelligence and drug repurposing. You’ll hear the incredible true story behind the organization’s founding: a rare disease, a near-death diagnosis, and the…

1
Replay: Things we would like to have known before we started with RWE 48:53

3M ago48:53

48:53

Interview with Rachel Tham What You’ll Learn: ✔ Why “index date” is more complicated than it sounds ✔ Common mistakes around exposure definitions ✔ The importance of understanding how RWE data is generated ✔ What programmers should know about timing, variables, and algorithms ✔ Why project management in RWE must be iterative and stakeholder-driven …

1
Unlocking Sex-Based Differences in Alzheimer’s Risk with Dr. Rachel Buckley 48:10

3M ago48:10

48:10

In this powerful episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Rachel Buckley, Associate Professor of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Together, they explore a growing body of research that challenges long-standing assumptions about sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Buckle…

1
Dating Wishlists: Are we happier when we get what we want in a mate? 1:05:31

3M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Loyal, funny, hot — you’ve probably got a wish list for your dream partner. But does checking all your boxes actually lead to happily ever after? In this episode, we dive into a massive global study that put the “ideal partner” hypothesis to the test. Do people really know what they want, and does getting it actually make them happier? We explore s…

1
EP 162: Emmanuel Valentine, Making High-Tech Farming like Hydroponics Affordable for All 35:51

3M ago35:51

35:51

Send us a text With the continent's population projected to reach 2.6 billion by 2050, food production must increase by 70% amidst growing challenges from climate. Valentine Emmanuel, a Nigerian agricultural scientist, shares his innovative approach to solving Africa's food security challenges through sustainable farming techniques and entrepreneur…

1
How Regenerative Biology Could Help Treat Alzheimer’s with Dr. Prabesh Bhattarai 45:23

4M ago45:23

45:23

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Prabesh Bhattarai, Associate Research Scientist - The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease, the aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a 2024 Toffler Scholar. Dr. Bhattarai shares his groundbreaking work on regenerative biology and ho…

1
Decoding Alzheimer’s: Breakthroughs in Neural Recording using and Biostatistics & Machine Learning 49:57

4M ago49:57

49:57

In this exciting episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal speaks with Dr. Ted Zwang, Assistant Professor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Andrew Holbrook, Assistant Professor at UCLA and Jasen Zhang, PhD student in biostatistics in Holbrook’s lab. Together, they share how novel neural reco…

1
AI and Statistics Start-ups: Opportunities and Challenges 43:32

4M ago43:32

43:32

Keynote by Manjari Narayan | The Effective Statistician Conference 2024 What You’ll Learn: ✔ Why the 21st century is truly the "century of biology" and what that means for statisticians ✔ The untapped opportunity for statisticians to innovate before clinical trials begin ✔ How AI-guided experiments are changing drug discovery—and the statistical ch…

1
Stats Reunion: What have we learned so far? 56:00

4M ago56:00

56:00

It’s our first stats reunion! In this special review episode, we revisit favorite concepts from past episodes—p-values, multiple testing, regression adjustment—and give them fresh personalities as characters. Meet the seductive false positive, the clingy post hoc ex, and Charlotte, the well-meaning but overfitting idealist. Statistical topics Bar c…

1
EP 161: Dr. Tebogo Makhubela, From Soweto to National Geographic, Tracing Human Origins 42:03

4M ago42:03

42:03

Send us a text What if the ground beneath your feet could tell you exactly when our ancestors walked the Earth? Dr. Tebogo Makhubela, a geologist from Soweto and a recent National Geographic Wayfinder Award winner, followed his scientific passion and is now uncovering these ancient stories as a National Geographic Explorer. This conversation takes …

1
How Childhood Stress Shapes the Brain with Dr. Heather Brenhouse 53:39

4M ago53:39

53:39

In this fascinating episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Heather Brenhouse, professor of psychology and director of the Developmental Neuropsychobiology Lab at Northeastern University—and a 2024 Toffler Scholar. Together, they explore the deep connections between childhood adversity, brain development, and long-…

1
Combining RCT and RWD – applications in rare diseases and practical recommendations 47:05

4M ago47:05

47:05

Keynote by Prof. Tim Friede | The Effective Statistician Conference 2024 What You’ll Learn: ✔ When and how to combine RCTs with real-world data (RWD) ✔ The CJD study: lessons from combining registry and trial data ✔ Hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis and shrinkage estimators ✔ Robustness of these approaches in the face of heterogeneity ✔ Practical…

1
Engineering the Brain—In the Lab and in Space 40:56

4M ago40:56

40:56

In this fascinating episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphall welcomes Dr. Alysson Muotri, a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego., for a deep dive into what makes the human brain unique—and how understanding that uniqueness might unlock new treatments …

1
Real-World Evidence vs. Randomized Trials: Can We Emulate Accuracy? 52:00

4M ago52:00

52:00

Keynote by Prof. Sebastian Schneeweiss | The Effective Statistician Conference 2024 What You’ll Learn: ✔ The motivation behind emulating randomized trials using real-world data ✔ How claims and EHR data can support regulatory-grade evidence ✔ What makes a trial emulation good vs. suboptimal ✔ The role of adherence, measurement limitations, and data…

1
EP 160: Future Women Innovators, meet the Dream STEM Technovation Summit Winners 30:53

4M ago30:53

30:53

Send us a text When 50 girls from underprivileged communities gathered at the Dream Women in STEM Technovation Summit in Durban, something big happened. In just three days, these young innovators became creators, inventors and problem-solvers who dared to reimagine their worlds and their futures. The summit challenged participants to develop soluti…

1
HPV Vaccine: How close are we to wiping out cervical cancer? 1:15:57

4M ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Could a preteen vaccine wipe out a global cancer? In this episode, we examine the bold claim that cervical cancer could be eradicated in much of the world by the end of the century—thanks to the highly effective HPV vaccine. We unpack statistical modeling, microsimulations, and how Markov chains make good date-night conversation. We also explore wh…

1
Microscopic Conversations: How Organelles Communicate and What It Means for Curing Neurological Disease 45:39

4M ago45:39

45:39

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal welcomes Dr. Yvette Wong, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University and 2024 Toffler Scholar, for a deep dive into the dynamic inner world of cells—and how her lab is uncovering new clues about neurodegenerative diseases by studying the microscopic interactions between…

1
The Power of Networking 16:32

4M ago16:32

16:32

Discussion with Alun Bedding What You’ll Learn: ✔ Why networking is about curiosity—not small talk ✔ How to set clear intentions for networking at events ✔ The three biggest myths that hold people back from networking (and how to overcome them) ✔ Practical tips for PSI Conference attendees to network with confidence ✔ The real-world value of buildi…

1
Aging with Dignity: Advancing Equity, Access, and Brain Health 53:44

5M ago53:44

53:44

In this compelling episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Sue Peschin, President and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research, for a candid conversation about the intersection of science, policy, and aging. From Alzheimer’s drug coverage to the future of stem cell research, they unpack what it truly means to age with di…

1
Inclusion for All: Rethinking Success, Neurodiversity, and Accessibility in the Workplace 36:46

5M ago36:46

36:46

Featuring Alun Bedding and Emma Crawford Learnings You’ll Gain From This Episode: ✔ Why inclusion is everyone’s responsibility—not just HR’s ✔ The difference between “reasonable adjustments” and “success enablers” ✔ How AI tools can support accessibility and productivity ✔ The hidden challenges behind late diagnoses of neurodivergence ✔ Why leaders…

1
Equipment Size: What is average? 54:20

5M ago54:20

54:20

Today’s deep dive: the surprisingly serious science of penis size. Using self-report surveys, objective measurements, and a healthy dose of old-school statistics, we ask: How do you get clean data on gentlemen’s goods?Along the way, we explore social desirability bias, survey design tricks, and what happens when science meets insecurity. You’ll nev…

1
EP 158: Dr Okechinyere Achilonu, Biostatistics as the Backbone of Health Research in Africa 38:01

5M ago38:01

38:01

Send us a text What happens when passion meets purpose in the world of medical data? Dr. Okechinyere Achilonu takes us through her journey in the evolving landscape of biostatistics in Africa. She reveals how this often-overlooked field serves as the backbone of health research across the continent. Born in Nigeria, Dr Okechi is currently a lecture…

1
Rewiring Brain Research—Why Networks Matter as Much as Genes 54:16

5M ago54:16

54:16

In this eye-opening episode of Research Renaissance, Dr. Rod Scott takes us on a journey through the emerging science of brain networks, complex adaptive systems, and why rethinking how we treat neurological conditions like epilepsy and autism might be the key to improving outcomes—especially in children. Dr. Scott explains why he views the brain n…

1
Inside the Mind of Brain Cancer: Modeling Glioblastoma with Dr. Frank Furnari 54:49

5M ago54:49

54:49

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Frank Furnari, professor of medicine at UC San Diego and co-director of the Brain Tumor Program at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. Together, they explore one of the most aggressive and complex cancers known to medicine—glioblastoma—and the innovative tools his team i…

1
Daily updated systematic literature reviews - the future of oncology 22:57

5M ago22:57

22:57

Interview with Anna Forsythe Why You Should Listen: ✔ Discover how SLRs are evolving through automation and AI ✔ Learn how real-time data can improve cancer treatment decisions ✔ Understand the balance between innovation and clinical responsibility ✔ Hear about a tool that could change the way guidelines and clinical practice align ✔ Be inspired by…

1
Sugar Sag: Is Your Diet Aging You? 1:08:27

5M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Wrinkles and sagging skin—just normal aging, or can you blame your sweet tooth? We dive into “sugar sag,” exploring how sugar, processed foods, and even your crispy breakfast toast might be making you look older than if you’d said no to chocolate cake and yes to broccoli. Along the way, we encounter statistical adjustment, training and test data se…

1
May Root of Science News Roundup 15:11

5M ago15:11

15:11

Send us a text What happens when African scientists tackle our continent's most pressing challenges? The May 2025 edition of our News Roundup, the first release under this segment, majorly focuses on innovation in health. The first is an AI-powered, solar-powered device that diagnoses Malaria and dispenses medicine. We also talk about Ghana's Yamac…