Ruth Pfeiffer

Ruth Pfeiffer is a tenured senior investigator in the Biostatistics Branch of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, USA. She is also a member of the External Faculty of the Complexity Science Hub Vienna since spring 2020. Her work spans multiple collaborative research projects at the NCI where she contributes her expertise in biostatistics to cancer epidemiology studies.

Dr. Pfeiffer received her education at the Technical University of Vienna, Austria, where she earned a degree in applied mathematics, followed by an M.A. in applied statistics and a Ph.D. in mathematical statistics from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her academic background in mathematical and statistical sciences forms the foundation of her methodological expertise in cancer research.

Her primary research interests focus on developing and applying statistical methods for absolute risk prediction, addressing problems arising in molecular and genetic epidemiologic studies, and conducting the analysis of data from electronic medical records. She has made significant contributions to methods for the design and analysis of observational studies and high-dimensional data. Her book Absolute Risk: Methods and Applications in Clinical Management and Public Health (co-authored with Gail MH) has become an important resource in the field. Her work bridges biostatistical methodology with practical applications in clinical management and public health decision-making.

Analysis of Dr. Pfeiffer's recent publication record reveals a strong emphasis on cancer epidemiology with particular attention to risk prediction models, disparities research across racial and ethnic groups, and methodological considerations in studying cancer in special populations including transplant recipients and individuals with HIV. Her work spans multiple cancer types including breast, endometrial, lung, and rare cancers, often focusing on how to improve risk assessment and early detection strategies.

• Mildred Scheel Award of the Deutsche Krebshilfe
• Fulbright Fellowship
• Elected Member of the International Statistical Institute
• Elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association

At the NCI, Dr. Pfeiffer actively mentors several fellows and junior investigators, contributing to the development of the next generation of biostatisticians and epidemiologists. Her collaborative research involves numerous grants and projects across the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, with particular focus on developing statistical approaches that address real-world challenges in cancer research. She has developed several software tools including PRS for breast cancer risk prediction, and various SAS and R macros for cancer risk assessment.

Dr. Pfeiffer works within the Biostatistics Branch at the NCI, which is part of the larger Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. Her work involves close collaboration with multiple research teams across the NCI and NIH, as evidenced by her extensive publication record with diverse co-authors from various branches and divisions. She contributes to the development and application of statistical methods that support the NCI's mission of cancer prevention and control.