Speaker: Prof Mats Stensrud, EPFL

Abstract: Investigators often express interest in effects that quantify the mechanism by which a treatment (exposure) affects an outcome.  In this presentation, I will discuss how to formulate and choose effects that quantify mechanisms, beyond conventional average causal effects. I will consider the perspective of a decision maker, such as a patient, doctor or drug developer. I will emphasise that a careful articulation of a practically useful research question should either map to decision making at this point in time or in the future. A common feature of effects that are practically useful is that they correspond to possibly hypothetical but well-defined interventions in identifiable (sub)populations. To illustrate my points, I will consider examples that were recently used to motivate consideration of mechanistic effects in medical studies. In all of these examples, I will suggest different causal effects that correspond to explicit research questions of practical interest.

This will be a free hybrid seminar. To register to attend virtually, please click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwodOytqjItGNL_he9tZXSxmdT7KTWWQRgF