The Biostatistical Shared Resource of the Massey Cancer Center (MCC) coordinates the statistical aspects of basic and clinical cancer research. It is staffed by faculty of the Department of Biostatistics.
The Biostatistical Shared Resource supports the research of basic and clinical investigators and selected pre clinical investigators by providing biostatistical input during the design phase of cancer-related investigations and in data analysis. Members of the Biostatistical Shared Resource provide critical expertise to the Protocol Review & Monitoring System (PRMS) in the evaluation of the statistical demands and design of proposed clinical trials. In an effort to increase accessibility and appropriate application of biostatistics to pre-clinical research, all grant applications processed by MCC administration will be reviewed by a designated biostatistician prior to submission to an outside funding agency.
The activities of the Biostatistical Shared Resource often represent the initial involvement of biostatistics in cancer-related research at MCC, which then can lead to more extensive scientific interactions. Previous interactions of biostatisticians with other MCC investigators have led to a number of ongoing collaborations in which biostatisticians are funded co-investigators and to independent funding for biostatisticians for interactive biostatistical research.
All personnel of the Biostatistical Shared Resource are members of the Department of Biostatistics. This department has 14 full-time Ph.D. faculty members. Departmental members have direct access to state-of-the-art computing hardware and software appropriate for these activities.
Investigators with cancer-related research proposals are referred to personnel of the Biostatistics Shared Resource without charge. This policy has been important in eliminating barriers to biostatistical consultation, especially for potential clinical investigators for whom biostatistical consultation is a prerequisite for application for external funding and for Protocol Review & Monitoring System (PRMS) approval. The Director is responsible for assuring that efforts of resource personnel are not expended upon proposals or projects unlikely to be found acceptable or meritorious according to commonly accepted scientific standards. In cases that raise these concerns, Dr. Ramesh consults with MCC Senior Leadership, for example, Dr. John Roberts for clinical trials, or Dr. Richard Moran for pre clinical investigations.