Kathryn Hirst, PhD, MS

Kathryn Hirst is a Research Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatstics.

• Phone: (301) 881-9260
• Fax: (301) 881-3767
• Email: khirst@biostat.bsc.gwu.edu

Professor Hirst applies her skills as a biostatistician to a broad range of large-scale multicenter clinical trials. Currently, she serves as principal investigator of the statistical coordinating center for NIH-funded studies of pediatric diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the genetics of sarcoidosis. Other trials that rely on her expertise include those focused on bone loss, thalassemia, and pulmonary embolisms. Before joining the School, Dr. Hirst was senior biostatistician in the Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology at the Henry Ford Health System.

Education

Master of Science (Biometrics), University of Minnesota, 1976
Doctor of Philosophy (Biometrics), University of Colorado, 1990

Teaching

Statistics for Biological Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Research

Dr. Hirst is principal investigator of the coordinating centers for: Sarcoidosis Genetic Analysis, funded by the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI); Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); and Studies to Treat or Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes, funded by NIDDK. She is also coordinating center co-investigator for the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis II, funded by NHLBI, and has been involved in studies of estrogen in older women and in studies testing osteoporosis prevention or intervention treatment.

Community Service

Professor Hirst has chaired the Local Arrangements Committee for a regional meeting of the International Biometrics Society and served as reviewer for American Journal of Public Health and Controlled Clinical Trials, and for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Departments

• Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Institutes & Centers

• Biostatistics Center

Research Activities

• Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Intervention Trial (DUBIT)
• A Safety, Efficacy, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Trial of Lamictal in the Treatment of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
• Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (MIST)
• Preventative Estradiol for Inhibition of Angioplasty Restenosis Lesions in Older Women (PEARL)
• Sarcoidosis Genetic Analysis (SAGA)
• Sites Testing Osteoporosis Prevention/Intervention Treatments (STOPIT)
• Studies to Treat or Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes (STOPP-T2D)
• The Women's Health Study

Publications

• The association between malaria, blood transfusions, and HIV seropositivity in a pediatric population in Kinshasa, Zaire.
  Greenberg AE, Nguyen-Dinh P, Mann JM, Kabote N, Colebunders RL, Francis H, et al. The association between malaria, blood transfusions, and HIV seropositivity in a pediatric population in Kinshasa, Zaire. J Am Med Assoc 1988;259:545-9.
• The use of hepatitis C viral RNA levels in liver tissue to distinguish rejection from recurrent hepatitis C.
  Gottschlich MJ, Aardema KL, Burd EM, Nakhleh RE, Brown KA, Abouljoud MA, Hirst K, Moonka DK. The use of hepatitis C viral RNA levels in liver tissue to distinguish rejection from recurrent hepatitis C. Liver Transpl 2001;7:436-1.
• The Next Step Trial: Impact of a worksite colorectal cancer screening promotion program.
  Tilley BC, Vernon SW, Myers R, Glanz K, Lu M, Hirst K, Kristal AR. The Next Step Trial: Impact of a worksite colorectal cancer screening promotion program. Prev Med 1999;28:276-83.
• Nutrition intervention for high-risk auto workers: Results of the Next Step Trial
  Tilley BC, Glanz K, Kristal AR, Hirst K, Li S, Vernon SW, Myers R. Nutrition intervention for high-risk auto workers: Results of the Next Step Trial. Prev Med 1999;28:284-92.
• Book review of Clinical Trials Dictionary
  Hirst K, Tilley BC. Book review of Clinical Trials Dictionary, Control Clin Trials 1999;20:66-7.