Study Design and Biostatistics (SDAB)

The Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Core works closely with existing resources to provide targeted study design and biostatistics support to ITMAT/CTSA investigators. The Core serves as a direct provider of services, including protocol review, study design, proposal development, and the performance of simple to potentially substantial complex analyses, with potential to apply innovative cutting-edge methods developed by our faculty. BERD integrates the support available with the HUP and CHOP Center for Human Phenomic Science (CHPSs), the expertise and resources of faculty in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (DBEI/CCEB), the Biostatistics Analysis Center (BAC), and the Biostatistics and Data Management Core (BDMC) at CHOP.

There are multiple routes to request assistance from members of the BERD Core as shown in the figure. The primary method is to send an email to sdab@mail.med.upenn.edu, which generates an email to Drs. Bilker, Cucchiara, and Shults. The second method is via the project registration process for the BAC; requests via that route are triaged and forwarded to Dr. Bilker if ITMAT-related. Direct contact to BERD personnel is also commonly used, especially for projects for which a previous collaboration exists.  Regardless of the initial route of contact, all requests are reviewed and needs for faculty participation, design and/or data analysis assistance, and data management assessed. Any investigator requesting core support will need to be a registered ITMAT member and the proposed project will need to meet criteria of being a CTSA-appropriate project. Emphasis is placed on projects in accord with the two overarching themes of our CTSA – Translational Therapeutics and Bridging the Pediatric to Adult divide.

Contacts

BERD Core Director: Warren Bilker, PhD
Email: .warren@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Adult: Andy Cucchiara, PhD
Email: andy@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Pediatric: Abbas Jawad, PhD
Email: JAWAD@EMAIL.CHOP.EDU