James M. Robins (Workshop in Applied Statistics)

Today's Speaker

James M. Robins (Chan SPH), "Target Trials and Structural Nested Models: Emulating RCTs using Observational Longitudinal Data"

Abstract

Target trials are RCTs one would like to conduct but cannot for ethical, financial, and/or logistical reasons. Consequently, we must emulate such trials from observational data.  A novel aspect of target trial methodology is that, for purposes of data analysis, each subject in the observational study is ‘enrolled’ in all target trials for which the subject is eligible, instead of a single trial. I will describe recent theoretical results connecting target trial methodology and structural nested models. I will discuss a novel inferential conundrum that arises from this connection. Finally I will discuss the question: How do we validate causal estimates from observational data.

The Applied Statistics Workshop (Gov 3009) meets all academic year, Wednesdays, 12pm-1:30pm, in CGIS K354. This workshop is a forum for advanced graduate students, faculty, and visiting scholars to present and discuss methodological or empirical work in progress in an interdisciplinary setting. The workshop features a tour of Harvard's statistical innovations and applications with weekly stops in different fields and disciplines and includes occasional presentations by invited speakers.

More information is available at the Gov 3009 website: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/applied.stats.workshop-gov3009

All interested Harvard affiliates are invited to attend.