Interview: Carlo La Vecchia

Medicine (Epidemiology) from the University of Oxford.What inspired this career path?When I graduated from Oxford in the early 80s, epidemiology was a key, innovative discipline.There were several important discoveries at that time, such as quantifying the link between tobacco, asbestos, and lung cancer and a large number of other neoplasms and diseases.The key role of time since first exposure (long latency) to asbestos on mesothelioma, the risks and benefits of oral contraceptives, and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) on cervical cancer were also being investigated.Furthermore, there was a focus on occupational carcinogens and toxic substances.At that time, epidemiology was a key discipline from a medical and public health viewpoint.That was essentially why I chose to specialise in this field.Epidemiology was very exciting in Oxford because Richard Doll, Richard Peto, Jack Cuzick, Julian Peto, and Nick Wald, were there, so it was great to work with the major figures in the field.