Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Research Design (BERD)

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The overarching objective of the Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) core is to provide quality biostatistical, epidemiological and research design support to investigators in the Buffalo Translational Consortium.

We provide support for all stages of T0 through T4 research by means of consultation, teaching, collaboration and methodological research.

What we do

The BERD offers statistical and bioinformatic services to researchers in the Buffalo Translational Consortium. We provide access to PhD-level scientists with a wealth of experience in study design and analysis in a team science context

Services

Interdisciplinary Grant Development

BERD provides one-on-one consultations to deliver support for funding requests to sponsors.

The involvement of BERD members results in applications for external funding which are more competitive. Quality of results from the proposed studies is increased and the cost-effectiveness of the science conducted is maximized.

The development of materials is typically provided free of charge for grant applications that appropriately budget for BERD faculty/staff support.

Methodological Research and Software Development

Areas of strength: Early development of interventions, common problems for wider impact, well control error rate with small sample size, methods of inference under general missing data mechanisms, exact testing methods, clinical trial design, methods for pharmacokinetic data, inference methods under order constraints

Design of Experimental and Observational Studies

Areas of Strength: clinical trials, case-control designs, cohort studies, "early phase" (i.e., T0 and T1) array and next generation sequencing based studies, studies involving nascent biotechnologies, identifying cost effective designs.

Biostatistical and Bioinformatic Data Analyses

Areas of Strength: standard biostatistical consulting, longitudinal analyses, data visualization, analysis of high-throughput data, analysis of publicly available data-sets, analysis of population health data, data visualization.

Development of Novel Biostatistical and Bioinformatic Methods

Novel experimental and observational study designs and technologies may require the development of novel data analytic methods. The BERD core is capable of supporting projects that require such innovation.

Policies

Billing

Grant development: The development of biostatistical and bioinformatic materials is typically provided free of charge for grant applications that appropriately budget for BERD faculty/staff support.

Note: the grant development queue can become congested prior to major deadlines. If a request for support is submitted too close to a deadline, BERD personnel may not be available to provide assistance.

Data Analyses: Typically, 10 hours of initial support for standard data analysis projects are provided free of charge.

Projects requiring more than 10 hours of support will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The 10 hours of initial BERD support will include up to two hours of initial bioinformatics support. Additional bioinformatics support is available under the terms of the Bioinformatics Shared Resource at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Publications

Authorship: If BERD-generated materials (e.g., analysis plans, analysis results, figures, tables, etc.) are included in a manuscript, then at least one member of the BERD core should be included in the manuscript author list.

Grant Acknowledgement: Manuscripts which make use of BERD services should acknowledge the Clinical and Traslational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number UL1TR001412 to the University at Buffalo.