Biostatistics Consulting Service

One of the consistent top 5 reasons cited for grant application funding and successful scientific manuscripts publication, relates to an appropriate statistical design and analysis section, including power and sample size calculations.  - Kevin Robertson, Ph.D.

The Biostatistics Consulting Service provides consultation in a wide range of areas including the statistical design of experiments and clinical trials, protocol development, database management, analysis of data and interpretation of results. Some of the areas of special strength and expertise include cardiovascular biostatistics, cancer biostatistics, genetic epidemiology, computing and statistical packages. The Biostatistics Consulting Service is well-equipped to provide assistance at the stage of preparing grant applications, including careful discussions of study design, sample size calculations, randomization schemes, computer resources and data analysis.

ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES

The Biostatistics Consulting Service is directed by Dr. Kevin Robertson. Dr Robertson is familiar with most statistical methods and design, and utilize primarily SAS® and Statistica®. Dr. Robertson has served as a statistician on successful NIH grant applications since 1983, and has been involved in clinical trials design since 1988.  This will not be a fee for service based as most are. For power/sample size computations, statistical analyses and experimental design in grant applications, a small percentage of effort for statistical consultation will be negotiated for the upcoming application. For existing data analyses to support manuscripts, appropriate co-authorship or acknowledgment will be negotiated.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Methodological designs comprise a wide-ranging collection of proficiencies that are utilized for research question identification, hypothesis construction, study design allocation, data collection and analysis, and interpretation. The Biostatistics Consulting Service provides requested consultative services to all Neurology Department investigators in the following areas of expertise:

Core consultation services include:

• Statistical analysis/modeling
• Sample size/power analysis
• Study design
• Protocol design/research planning
• Database design/management
• Questionnaire development
• Cost-effectiveness analysis
• Decision analysis/evidence-based medicine
• Definition of measurable objectives
• Standards/goal setting

Services are available to all faculty, postdoctoral fellows, residents, medical students or allied health professionals engaged in research at the UNC Chapel Hill Department of Neurology.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Robertson, the director of the Biostatistics Consultation Service, can be reached at kevinr-at-neurology.unc.edu He will assess the investigator’s needs and design a plan based on those needs.