In a world teeming with health data—from smart watch accelerometry to millions of hospital system electronic records—how do researchers find out which medical treatments truly work? Biostatistician Rebecca Hubbard discusses the messiness of real-world data, the limits of randomized controlled trials and how both of these powerful—but imperfect—methods are essential for building a trustworthy ‘edifice of evidence.’

In an era where the value of scientific research is increasingly undermined, Brown University public health scholars remain steadfast, showing how high-quality public health science protects people, shapes policy and transforms the health of our nation.