Joseph McLaughlin, an internationally recognized epidemiologist who made numerous contributions towards increasing understanding of the causes of cancer, died unexpectedly Dec. 10, 2014.
He directed key research in the United States and abroad clarifying the roles of tobacco, obesity, diet, occupation and other factors in the etiology of several cancers, especially kidney cancer, for which he was considered among the world’s experts. He led some of the largest studies exploring the etiology of renal cell and renal pelvis cancers, quantifying levels of risk associated with multiple lifestyle and environmental factors.
Joe’s interests were broad, however, and he became an expert in, and passionate about, multiple scientific and intellectual pursuits, including economics, soviet espionage, evolutionary psychology, Hollywood films and the philosophy of science.
This is an excerpt of an article that was published in full in The Cancer Letter.
