Pippa M. Simpson

Pippa M. Simpson serves as an Adjunct Professor in Pediatrics and Biostatistics at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where she functions as a biostatistician for the MCW Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI). With over 20 years of research consulting experience, she specializes in complex statistical analyses of national databases including NHANES and NHIS, supporting studies across community health, pharmacogenetics, cardiology, and gastroenterology.

Dr. Simpson earned her PhD from the University of Kentucky in 1988, establishing her foundational expertise in biostatistical methodology.

Her research program centers on reliability analysis, alternative clinical trial design, and missing data methodologies with strong applications in genetic and pediatric research. She has developed specialized statistical approaches for analyzing pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular conditions in congenital heart disease, and biomarker validation studies. Her work bridges advanced statistical theory with practical clinical applications in pediatric translational research.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals dominant themes in pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders (particularly cyclic vomiting syndrome and dysautonomia), cardiovascular outcomes in congenital heart disease, and innovative diagnostic methodologies. Her work frequently employs multicenter study designs with emphasis on normative data collection, biomarker validation, and health-related quality of life metrics in pediatric populations.

Scientific recognition includes:

• US FDA Advisory Committee Service Award (2004)
• Commonwealth Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships
• University of Kentucky Fellowship

As an NIH grant reviewer for over 15 years, Dr. Simpson has significantly influenced research funding decisions while actively mentoring faculty and fellows in research proposal development. She previously served as president of the Central Arkansas Statistical Association (2004-2006), demonstrating leadership in the statistical community.

Through the MCW CTSI, she collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams across pediatric subspecialties, providing critical statistical expertise from study design through data interpretation. Her current projects involve developing novel assessment tools like the neurocognitive passport for sickle cell disease and validating breath testing methodologies for gastric motility disorders.