The Department of Epidemiology is committed to discovering and disseminating knowledge of the distribution, determinants and prevention of disease, disability and premature death in populations.  Our faculty offer substantial experience in cardiovascular/renal diseases, infectious diseases, environmental epidemiology, reproductive epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, clinical trials, and epidemiologic methodology.

The Department of Epidemiology prepares students for careers in research, academia and public health practice.  We offer masters and doctoral degrees.

Smoking Bans Reduce the Risk of Heart Attacks Associated With Secondhand Smoke                                                                                        Smoking bans are effective at reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart disease associated with exposure to secondhand smoke, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.  The report also confirms there is sufficient evidence that breathing secondhand smoke boosts nonsmokers' risk for heart problems, adding that indirect evidence indicating that even relatively brief exposures could lead to a heart attack is compelling. > read more

China: High Blood Pressure Tops the List of Preventable Deaths in China         High blood pressure is the leading preventable cause of death in China, causing 2.3 million deaths a year, researchers reported on Monday. Their paper, released online by The Lancet, was done by scientists at Tulane University, the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Beijing and other institutions. > read more

Toll of Tobacco Smoking in China Burdens World Health
A study carried out by a multinational team led by researchers at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine offers additional strong documentation that smoking is a significant risk factor for mortality and disease.  > read more  

Linking Genes and Salt-sensitivity
Tulane University has been awarded a $2.8 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health for a four-year study to determine the genetic basis for salt-sensitivity as a cause of high blood pressure. > read more

American Heart Association Honors Gerald Berenson 
Tulane University cardiologist Gerald S. Berenson is one of only 13 researchers from throughout the country to be selected as a 2008 Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association. > read more

Study Examines Low-Fat and Low-Carb Diets  
How effective is a low-carbohydrate diet in countering weight gain and heart disease? Dr. Lydia Bazzano is asking that question as part of a study funded by a large federal grant aimed at helping young researchers gain experience and compete for independent funding. > read more

Study of Risk Factors for Kidney Disease Continues
The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study holds hope for prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease, which afflicts 26.3 million patients in this country. Tulane University will continue its participation in the national study through a five-year, $3.4 million grant.  > read more

Tulane University Study Charts Heavy Global Burden of Obesity 
Waistlines are expanding at such an alarming rate across the globe that, if trends hold, almost 58 percent of the world's population will be overweight or obese by 2030, according to researchers at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
> read more