Richard Peto

Sir Richard Peto

Born	14 May 1943
Nationality	British
Known for	Peto's paradox, Meta-analysis
Awards	Fellow of the Royal Society, Knighthood

Sir Richard Peto (born 14 May 1943) is a renowned British epidemiologist and statistician, known for his pioneering work in the field of epidemiology and his contributions to the understanding of the effects of smoking on health. He is a professor of medical statistics and epidemiology at the University of Oxford.

Early Life and Education

Richard Peto was born in 1943. He attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied mathematics. His interest in medical statistics and epidemiology led him to pursue a career in this field.

Career

Peto began his career at the University of Oxford, where he worked alongside Sir Richard Doll, a prominent epidemiologist known for his work on the link between smoking and lung cancer. Together, they conducted large-scale studies that provided robust evidence of the health risks associated with smoking.

Contributions to Epidemiology

Peto is best known for his work on meta-analysis, a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple scientific studies. This method has become a cornerstone in evidence-based medicine, allowing researchers to draw more reliable conclusions from existing data.

He is also known for "Peto's paradox", which addresses the observation that larger animals do not have a higher incidence of cancer than smaller animals, despite having more cells. This paradox has implications for understanding cancer biology and the mechanisms of tumor suppression.

Smoking and Health

Peto's research has significantly influenced public health policies worldwide. His studies on the effects of smoking have highlighted the importance of tobacco control measures. He has shown that smoking is responsible for a large proportion of premature deaths globally, and his work has been instrumental in the development of strategies to reduce smoking rates.

Awards and Honors

Richard Peto has received numerous awards for his contributions to science and public health. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his scientific achievements. In 1999, he was knighted for his services to epidemiology and public health.

Personal Life

Peto is known for his dedication to research and teaching. He continues to mentor young scientists and contribute to the field of epidemiology through his work at the University of Oxford.

Also see

• Epidemiology
• Meta-analysis
• Richard Doll
• Peto's paradox
• Smoking and health