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Biostatistics
UAMS Colleges of Medicine and Public Health
About Us
UAMS Biostatistics is
jointly administered by the Colleges of
Medicine and Public Health. While administered by two colleges,
the unit functions as one Department with Paula K. Roberson, Ph.D. serving
as the Chair. Members of the
Biostatistics faculty and research staff collaborate with investigators and
research programs across the UAMS campus, as well as the VA. We have assisted investigators with
varied research interests, including cancer, neurosciences, psychiatry,
aging, ophthalmology, pharmacology, as well as various public health
disciplines.
UAMS Biostatistics offices
are located on the 3rd floor of the College of Public
Health building in Suite 3215. You may call 296-1556 to schedule an
appointment with one of our faculty or
staff members.
Our Purpose
Our
goal at UAMS Biostatistics is to help improve the quality of research
conducted at UAMS by providing expert statistical guidance to clinical,
health services, and biomedical scientists. We strive to meet this goal (1)
through our collaborations with
UAMS investigators, (2) through our education
and training endeavors, (3) through our methodological
research and (4) by our service
to the local and national research community.
Collaboration
Our
collaborative efforts generally fall into one of three areas:
protocol/grant development, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Protocol/Grant Development: We believe that well-designed
studies are essential to successful research. Statisticians play a vital role in
helping investigators design studies that address their scientific
questions. Specific areas where
statisticians are useful include ensuring that study objectives are clearly
stated, proposing appropriate randomization procedures, clearly defining primary and
secondary endpoints, proposing appropriate statistical analyses that
address each research objective, and providing sample size estimates that
ensure the study will have a high probability of meeting its objectives.
Developing
grants and protocols is a time consuming effort. We strongly encourage investigators
to contact us as early as possible.
For large, multi-project grants, we need to be involved at least four months (one NIH
cycle) before the submission deadline. For less complex protocols, we
require at least six weeks.
Data Analysis: UAMS Biostatistics possesses the
resources to complete even the most complex of analyses. The expertise of our faculty and
staff represent many areas of the statistical sciences, including survey
statistics, psychometrics, clinical trials, signal detection, and
bioinformatics. This expertise
is essential in determining the appropriate methods to use and in applying
them properly. Just as
important as the analyses is the ability to communicate the results in an
understandable way. In addition
to providing written reports, our statisticians discuss these results
during one-on-one meetings with the investigators.
Manuscript Preparation: Our statisticians will assist in
writing the manuscript when the study is ready for publication. In addition
to providing succinct descriptions of the statistical methods, we can
provide publication quality tables and graphics that help summarize the
data. Co-authorship is expected
on studies where substantive input on design or analysis is provided.
Education
Throughout
the academic year, UAMS Biostatistics offers several courses through the College of Public Health. These include Biostatistics I, II
and III, Nonparametric Methods, Categorical Data Analysis, and Application
of Microcomputers to Data Management and Analysis. Biostatistics I, II, III, and
Nonparametric Methods are also cross-listed with the UAMS Graduate
School. The College of Public
Health also offers an MPH degree with a
concentration in Biostatistics.
In addition, Biostatistics faculty and staff participate in various
educational venues through regular participation in journal clubs, seminar
series and short courses related to their collaborative interests and
involvement.
Methodological
Research
When new
problems arise out of data analysis or when existing methods are not
adequate, our biostatisticians have the capability of developing new, more
appropriate methods or creatively modifying and applying the existing ones,
to meet the research needs and to contribute to our profession. Some of our
recent research includes areas of non-parametric methodology, non-linear
modeling, Bayesian methods and longitudinal data problems.
Service
UAMS Biostatistics is
committed to improving research quality, as evidenced by our service to the
local and national research communities. Locally, our faculty members are
actively involved in research review committees, such as the Protocol
Review and Monitoring Committee (PRMC) which reviews protocols involving
the ACRC; and the GCRC Advisory Committee (GAC) which reviews all protocols
requesting GCRC assistance.
Nationally, our faculty members serve frequently on NIH review
committees and Data Safety Monitoring Boards, and are active in the American
Statistical Association and other professional organizations. Our members also actively
participate in the publication peer review process and have recently
reviewed manuscripts for the following journals: Stroke, Medical Care,
HSR, The American Journal of Physiology, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation,
Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Pediatric
Blood and Cancer.
Contact Information
4301
West Markham, #781
Little Rock,
AR 72205-7199
Phone:
501.296.1556
Fax:
501.526.6729
http://www.uams.edu/biostat
Biostatistics Email
Biostatistics Webmaster
Last updated:
11/23/2009
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