Biostatistics

The primary aim of the Biostatistics staff is to support funded cancer-related projects of Cancer Center members; support of other projects can be arranged. The staff supports several program projects (P- and U- grants, and SOPRES). We provide Cancer Center members with a high level and broad range of expertise in data management and biostatistics.

Investigators are encouraged to initiate collaboration with the Biostatistics staff as early as possible in the protocol planning process and to utilize services throughout the duration of their projects.

Biostatistics Services

Services include support in the planning, monitoring, and analysis phases of a study.

Planning

• Review background and rationale
• Identify hypotheses, endpoints, and covariates
• Design experiments and surveys
• Estimate sample size and calculate power
• Assist database development
• Write statistical considerations components of grants and research protocols
• Develop early stopping rules for clinical trials
• Monitoring

Process, store, and retrieve data

• Monitor accrual
• Conduct interim analysis
• Assist with continuation/stopping decisions

Analysis

• Conduct statistical analysis
• Assist with interpretation of results
• Recommend presentation methods
• Author statistical analysis component of manuscripts

Request for Service

1. Go to the CTR Portal, http://z.umn.edu/ctsirequest. You will be asked to log in with your x500 username and password. 
2. Select "New Request" in the upper right.
3. Search for your project, or if it is a new project, you can select "No the project doesn't yet exist" and you will be prompted to enter the project title and the PI information. Then select "Proceed to the next step".
4. Choose "Yes I would" from the pop-up and then select the first button on the next page. It reads, 'Biostatistical and Data Management Support'. Proceed to the next step.
5. Answer the remaining questions as completely as you can and submit the form upon completion.