Faculty Profile

John Rice

John D Rice, PhD

  • Research Assistant Professor, Biostatistics

John Rice is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. His research focuses on semiparametric and robust statistical methods for time-to-event and recurrent event processes, renewal process models, and analysis of aggregated survival data. He develops methods for latent event processes, flexible hazard modeling of gap times and inter-event dependence, and statistical frameworks for intermediate-to-terminal event transitions.

Dr. Rice collaborates extensively in cancer research, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and health services research. He serves as a biostatistical investigator on multiple federally funded clinical studies, including NIH-, DoD-, and foundation-supported trials in oncology, pragmatic care delivery, and translational medicine. His work has been recognized by the International Biometric Society and has appeared in both methodological and applied journals.

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester

  • PhD, Biostatistics, University of Michigan
    Dissertation: “Robust and Semiparametric Statistical Modeling for Cancer Research”

  • MSPH, Biostatistics, Emory University
    Thesis: “Statistical models for microbial concentration data incorporating detection limits”

  • BA, English Language and Literature, University of Chicago

Research Interests
  • Semiparametric and robust methods for time-to-event and recurrent event data

  • Renewal process and gap-time modeling, including latent and partially observed event processes

  • Aggregated survival and cure-model estimation, including approximate maximum likelihood approaches

  • Statistical methods for intermediate-to-terminal event transitions

  • Design and analysis of pragmatic, adaptive, stepped-wedge, and cluster-randomized trials

  • Applications in oncology, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and health services research

  • Methods for electronic health record data and complex observational designs

Research Projects
  • Multicenter pragmatic clinical trials in trauma and critical care, including autonomous oxygen titration (SAVE-O2) (Co-Investigator)

  • Clinical trials in oncology evaluating targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and early-phase translational interventions (Co-Investigator)

  • Statewide initiatives to expand access to cancer genetic screening and testing (Co-Investigator, U01)

  • Phase 1 pediatric brain tumor gene-mediated cytotoxic immunotherapy trial (Co-Investigator)

  • Rehabilitation and physical activity interventions for chronic disease, including multiple sclerosis and metastatic cancer populations (Co-Investigator)

  • Methodological development for aggregated survival and cure models, renewal frameworks, and semiparametric estimation

  • Statistical support for P30 Rogel Cancer Center programs and shared resource development (Co-Investigator)

"Langner PR, Juarez-Colunga E, Marzec LN, Grunwald GK, Rice JD.
Efficiency loss with binary pre-processing of continuous monitoring data.
Statistics in Biosciences. PMID: 39854233.

Rice JD, Kempe A.
Approximate maximum likelihood estimation in cure models using aggregated data, with application to HPV vaccine completion.
Statistics in Medicine. PMID: 39235316.

Rice JD, Johnson BA, Strawderman RL.
Screening for chronic diseases: optimizing lead time through balancing prescribed frequency and individual adherence.
Lifetime Data Analysis. PMID: 35739436.

Rice JD, Johnson RL, Juarez-Colunga E, Zemanick ET, Rosenfeld M, Wagner BD.
Application of gap-time analysis with flexible hazards to pulmonary exacerbations in the EPIC observational study.
Biometrical Journal. PMID: 35434808.

Rice JD, Johnson BA, Strawderman RL.
Modeling the rate of HIV testing from repeated binary data amidst potential never-testers.
Biostatistics. PMID: 29165637.

Edwards DM, Schonewolf CA, Rice JD, et al.
Personalized response-based radiation treatment toxicity in patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics. PMID: 38971385.

Qin A, Wells L, Malhotra B, Gadgeel S, Schneider BJ, Ramnath N, Rice JD, et al.
A Phase II trial of pevonedistat and docetaxel in previously treated advanced non–small-cell lung cancer.
Clinical Lung Cancer. PMID: 37977950.

Wytiaz V, Schwartz E, Rice JD, et al.
Disparate outcomes, biologic and therapeutic differences in pediatric versus adult Ewing sarcoma.
Oncology. PMID: 37598679."

Phone:(734) 764-5450
Email: jdrice@umich.edu 

Areas of Expertise: Biostatistics,  Cancer,  Clinical Trials,  Modeling,  Vaccines