Sir Richard Doll, 1912–2005

Abstract

In this commentary, we offer a selective overview of these publications, highlighting some of Richard's most significant contributions in broad research areas—including tobacco use, risks of ionizing radiation, asbestos and lung cancer, cancer epidemiology, and asthma—and his collaborative activities. We also cite some of his key publications. Richard published two papers in the American Journal of Epidemiology (2, 3).Eloquent obituaries have described Richard's long and full life; and a personal and engaging account of his career was published in 2003 in the “Voices” series in Epidemiology (1). Headed for a career in mathematics, he failed the qualifying examination for a scholarship at Cambridge and turned to medicine, following his father. He served in the military during World War II and was present at the Battle of Dunkirk; he reported to one of us (J. M. S.) that in recent years, he had more often been approached by the media to recount the evacuation of Dunkirk, as one of the few survivors, than to address his research findings. After the war, he took a training course in medical statistics and met Sir Austin (Tony) Bradford Hill, who was to have a strong influence on his career (1). Richard began working with Hill in the MRC's Statistical Research Unit at the time that research programs on environmental causes of disease were being implemented. From this point onward, his career spanned over a half century and resulted in more than 500 publications.