A History of Biostatistics and Data Science at Washington University School of Medicine.

Abstract

Biostatistics at Washington University School of Medicine has evolved from a modest component of pharmacology in the 1940s into a nationally recognized leader in quantitative biomedical research. In this perspective we trace the development of the biostatistics program from its early incorporation into medical education through the formal establishment of the Division of Biostatistics in 1966 and its subsequent expansion in scope and impact. The Division's transformation into the Center for Biostatistics and Data Science (CBDS) marks a new era that integrates traditional biostatistics with modern data science, including machine learning and other advanced computational methods. Guided by three strategic pillars-team science and collaborative research, innovative methods, and education and training-CBDS continues to advance biomedical discovery through rigorous quantitative science. This historical reflection connects the early foundations to the questions and methods that define biostatistics and data science at Washington University today.