About
Dr. Rahbar obtained his Ph.D. in Statistics from Michigan State University in 1988 and joined the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) as Professor in 2008. Dr. Rahbar is currently a tenured Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Clinical & Translational Sciences at UTHealth. He also serves as Director of the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) component of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, and founding Director of Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences in the Department of Internal Medicine at UTHealth. Dr. Rahbar enjoys teaching and has taught numerous courses in Epidemiology and Biostatistics including Advanced Design and Analysis Methods in Epidemiology, Data Mining, and Survival Analysis. Dr. Rahbar’s current research interest lies in global maternal and child health, with a focus on developing countries. Currently, he serves as PI for the “Epidemiological Research on Autism in Jamaica (ERAJ): Phase 2” R01 grant funded by NIEHS which was built on an earlier R21 grant “ERAJ” funded by NICHD/FIC. In this study, launched in 2009, Dr. Rahbar and his team collaborate with colleagues at the University of the West Indies, in Jamaica to explore the role of environmental and genetic factors in ASD. These two studies resulted in 16 publications and multiple abstracts presented at various scientific meetings. Subsequently, he launched similar pilot studies in Pakistan and Romania, in collaboration with colleagues at Aga Khan University in Karachi and Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, respectively. Furthermore, Dr. Rahbar has successfully collaborated and obtained funding for several other grants. Currently, he serves as Co-Investigator (Co-I) and BERD Director for the NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Sciences award. Dr. Rahbar also serves as Co-I & statistician for the NINDS-funded “Reversing Age Related Inflammation” study.