Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Robin Roberts
BSc (Bradford), MSc (Brunell)Professor Emeritus, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
905.527.2299 x 42624
905.575.2646
robertsr@mcmaster.ca
Neonatal Trials Group
Henderson Research Centre
711 Concession Street, G Wing, 2nd Floor
Hamilton, ON L8V 1C3
Academic Interests
Professor Roberts is a biostatistician with broadly based experience in epidemiological research in etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. His early interests involved cancer epidemiology, particularly applied to occupational exposures. In the mid 80’s his research focus moved into the design, execution, and analysis of randomized controlled trials. The primarily therapeutic target has been vascular disease but more recent studies have also included neonatal interventions. He was a principal investigator of large international trials providing pivotal evidence for the regulatory approval of the platelet active drugs Ticlopidine and Clopidogrel for the prevention of major ischemic events. He is currently a member of the Steering Committees of a number of major national and international trials in the role of methodologist and chief biostatistician. He also sits on the Safety Committees of a number of other major trials. Professor Roberts is the senior biostatistician at the Hamilton Civic Hospitals Research Centre where he provides ongoing methodologic support to his colleagues and clinician researchers in the McMaster system. He is also active in graduate education via the Health Research Methods Programme.
Selected Publications
- Schmidt B, Davis P, Moddermann D, Ohlsson A, Roberts R, Saigal S, Solimano A, Vincer M, Wright W. Long-term effects of indomethacin prophilaxis in extremely-low-birth-weight infants. N Eng J Med, 2001;344: 1966-72.
- Gent M, Beaumont D, Blanchard J, Bousser MG, Coffman J, Easton JD, Hampton JR, Harker LA, Janzon L, Kusmierek JJE, Panak E, Roberts RS, Shannon JS, Sicurella J, Tognoni G, Topol EJ, Verstraete M, Warlow C. A randomized, blinded, trial of clopidogrel versus aspirin in patients at risk for ischemic events (CAPRIE). Lancet, 1996; 348: 1329-39.
- Gill JB, Cairns JA, Roberts RS, Costantini L, Sealy BJ, Fallen EF, Gent M. Prognostic importance of myocardial ischemia detected by ambulatory monitoring early after an acute myocardial infarct. N Eng J Med, 1996; 334: 65-70.
- Roberts RS, Julian JA, Sweezey D, Muir DCF, Shannon HS, Mastromatteo E. A study of mortality in workers engaged in the mining, smelting, and refining of OIndust Hlth, 1989; 5: 957-74.
- Gent M, Blakely JA, Easton JD, Ellis DJ, Hachinski VC, Harbison JW, Panak E, Roberts RS, Sicurella J, Turpie AGG, and the CATS Group. The Canadaian American ticlopidine study (CATS) in thromboembolic stroke. Lancet, 1989; 1: 1215-20.
- Roberts RS, Spitzer WO, Delmore T, Sackett DL. An empirical demonstration of Berkson’s Bias. J Chron Dis, 1978; 31: 119-28.