Biostatistical Shared Resource

The Department of Medicine at University of Rochester Medicine is committed to providing biostatistical support to mentored trainees and faculty performing excellent science who do not have current funding available to cover those activities. Trainees need to include their mentor’s name in the request.

The program was implemented on July 1, 2022. Resource staff now include Dr. Samia Lopa, PhD (Clinical and Translational Research); Myla Strawderman, MS (clinical research); and Lu Wang, MS (basic science), each of whom provides support with study design and statistical analysis. Access to the Shared Resource biostatistical support is through a REDCap tool.

DOM Biostatistical Resource Best Practices and Glossary

Preparing for a Meeting

Please prepare a 1-2 pages summary of your study analysis proposal. Please focus on ONE relevant question and one hypothesis as typically done for pilot grants or preliminary analysis as this allows for quick turnaround and allows others to utilize this resource as well. Please review your submitted document and be ready to answer questions related to your study and your database variables as needed.

We cover the following areas of support:

1. Study preparation and pre-study planning: this typically relates to analyzing preliminary data needed to identify a new hypothesis for a new study, and typically includes a smaller dataset/pilot data. 
2. Sample size, power calculations, and analytic plans: if you are submitting a research grant, you may need a sample size or power evaluation, along with a description of the primary and secondary analyses. We recommend that for grant submissions, you include a biostatistician to support the study (besides the initial consultation). 
3. Basic statistics, including bivariate analyses (chi-square, t-tests, and ANOVA), multivariate regression (linear and logistic), non-parametric tests, correlations, and basic survival analyses (log-rank tests, Kaplan Meier curves, and Cox regression): tests will be determined based on your study question and hypothesis. You can suggest specific tests to be conducted, however, the biostatistician might recommend different tests to be conducted. 
4. Database management: the shared resource can provide advice and basic assistance with data management for smaller studies. Complex database management needs require the expertise of trained personnel; shared resource personnel can review your needs and recommend expertise in that area.

Feedback Following a Meeting

The biostatistician might ask for revisions of the study plan and might set up a follow-up appointment with you to continue the discussion. The biostatistician will provide an estimated timeline of analysis completion. We will ask you to complete a feedback form in REDCap about this service.

Contacts

Myla Strawderman Myla_Strawderman@URMC.Rochester.edu
Lu Wang Lu_Wang@URMC.Rochester.edu
Samia Lopa samia_lopa@urmc.rochester.edu

Priority

Priority will go to:

1. Major scientific conference deadlines
2. Extramural peer-reviewed grant deadlines
3. Intramural peer-reviewed grant deadlines
4. Manuscript revisions
5. Manuscripts in preparation.

In order to protect biostatistician time during busy periods, the recommended deadline for applications for meetings/grants is 3-6 weeks prior; however depending on demand or nature of the project we realize that this may not be feasible and so if time is an issue this will be addressed at the time of the consultation. Please visit NIH standard deadlines for important dates and remember ORPA’s 5 business days lead time.

Request Biostatistics Support

*If this is a cancer related project, please see Wilmot Cancer Institute's Biostatistics Shared Research form

If you have any questions related to this program, please directly reach out to Laura Calvi Laura_Calvi@URM.Rochester.edu, Valentina Kutyifa Valentina_Kutyifa@urmc.rochester.edu, or Stefanie Fingler Stefanie_Fingler@URMC.Rochester.edu.

Data Management Tips