Dr. Laura Bothwell

Biography

Laura Bothwell is a Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale School of Medicine and an Assistant Professor with a background in history and ethics within public health. Her research focuses on the social, historical, and ethical dimensions of epidemiology, particularly in relation to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). She is currently working on a book that examines both international and national policies that influence the rigor and ethical standards of clinical trials and the protections for vulnerable trial participants. Her work also explores the intersection of climate change and public health ethics, underlining the importance of participant diversity in RCTs. Bothwell completed her PhD in History, Ethics, and Public Health Medicine from Columbia University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Policy, Law, and Ethics at Harvard Medical School and Brigham Women's Hospital. She has held visiting appointments at institutions such as Oxford University and Karolinska Institutet and teaches courses on public health ethics and history in public health at Yale. Her research interests include adaptive clinical trials, bioethics, epidemiology, global health, and social justice related to health.

Research Interests