Overview
Rebecca North, PhD
Dr. North is a collaborative biostatistician who lets clinical application drive methodological innovation. This has been true since graduate school at NC State University, where her dissertation focused on variable selection methods for functional data for the purpose of identifying a sparse set of electromyogram signals that would accurately predict the velocity of a prosthetic arm. Also while in graduate school, Dr. North was supported by a T32 Traineeship, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Integrated Biostatistical Training Program for Cardiovascular Disease Research, through which she gained clinical research experience at the Duke Clinical Research Institute with particular focus on atrial fibrillation research.
Since joining the Duke Aging Center, Dr. North has gained statistical experience in latent class analysis, mediation analysis, and meta-analysis, to add to her knowledge of functional data analysis, variable selection techniques, random forests and decision trees, survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis, and other classical frequentist statistical methods. Her clinical areas of interest include circadian rhythm research, cardiovascular research (particularly atrial fibrillation), and Veteran health.
Dr. North is a collaborative biostatistician who lets clinical application drive methodological innovation. This has been true since graduate school at NC State University, where her dissertation focused on variable selection methods for functional data for the purpose of identifying a sparse set of electromyogram signals that would accurately predict the velocity of a prosthetic arm. Also while in graduate school, Dr. North was supported by a T32 Traineeship, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Integrated Biostatistical Training Program for Cardiovascular Disease Research, through which she gained clinical research experience at the Duke Clinical Research Institute with particular focus on atrial fibrillation research.
Since joining the Duke Aging Center, Dr. North has gained statistical experience in latent class analysis, mediation analysis, and meta-analysis, to add to her knowledge of functional data analysis, variable selection techniques, random forests and decision trees, survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis, and other classical frequentist statistical methods. Her clinical areas of interest include circadian rhythm research, cardiovascular research (particularly atrial fibrillation), and Veteran health.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Biostatistician III
Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Effects of Blueberry Consumption on Fecal Microbiome Composition and Circulating Metabolites, Lipids, and Lipoproteins in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Older Adults with Overweight or Obesity: The BEACTIVE Trial.
Journal Article Nutrients · March 29, 2025 Background/Objectives: Generous consumption of phytonutrient-rich foods, including blueberries, provides benefits to multiple physiologic and metabolic systems. This study explored the potential that regular, generous blueberry intake could favorably modul ... Full text Link to item CiteChanges in weight and physical function for older African American women in Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.
Journal Article Contemp Clin Trials · March 2025 BACKGROUND: Obesity and frailty are positively linked. Compared to other groups, older African American women have the highest rates of both obesity and frailty. Several academic weight loss interventions have shown that older adults can lose weight and im ... Full text Link to item CiteEffect of donepezil on bone metabolism among older adults with Alzheimer's disease.
Journal Article Contemp Clin Trials · January 2025 Older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD), in addition to significant cognitive disability, have twice the risk of fracture compared to those with normal cognition. Fractures among older adults with AD are associated with substantial morbidity, loss of ph ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Research and Mentoring on Neurocognitive Disparities in Aging
ResearchBiostatistician · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2023 - 2026Adaptation to Spanish of the Uniform Data System Version 4
ResearchBiostatistician III · Awarded by University of Washington · 2023 - 2026Improving Veteran Access To Integrated Management of Chronic Back Pain (AIM Back)
ResearchStatistician · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2026View All Grants