Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Research Design (BERD) Core Seminars
We invite you to the CTSI Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Research Design (BERD) core seminars. Each month, the CTSI will introduce its faculty, clinicians, staff, and affiliates of the CTSI and engage in discussions geared specifically towards you, the BU research community. Join us and learn how the CTSI can help you.
Dr. Howard Cabral and Dr. Janice Weinberg, faculty in the Department of Biostatistics, lead the consulting sessions. Please submit a request for an individual biostatistics consulting session here.
Summer Schedule: Drop-In sessions will be paused from June 1st to September 2nd, resuming after Labor Day. During this time, individual biostatistics consultations will still be available.
Previous Seminars
Topic: Design considerations for pilot studies in clinical and translational research Clinical and translational research defined as a “pilot study” is often incorrectly applied to projects at initial stages that are unfunded or under-funded, have loosely defined protocols, or have not properly taken into consideration the goals and design of the next stage of research. This presentation will present recommendations for the proper design of pilot studies, particularly with regard to consideration of appropriate sample size and data analysis. Topic: Using the Point option for M:N and Fuzzy Merges in SAS Topic: Clinical Research: Strategies to retain subjects and publish faster Upon conclusion of this program, participants should be able to: The essence of clinical research is the capture of data from subjects. Historically, subjects have experienced little more than the burden of appointments and completing forms. Moreover, existing database systems involve a complicated, time-consuming process to transform data into information. Advances in information technology and devices offer considerable promise with regard to overcoming these common challenges. Innovative software strategies to integrate device data, gamification, and delivery of personally relevant information and incentives are exciting new ways to engage and strengthen the commitment of subjects. Building database systems around the dissemination phase (e.g., data analysis, publication of results) will dramatically help clinical investigators answer questions quicker. Examples will be demonstrated using StudyTRAX, an electronic data capture (EDC) system.
Topic: Adaptive Designs in Clinical Trials This presentation will cover background information about adaptive trials, as well as give an overview of some of the more common adaptive clinical trial designs. Ellen Gurary has a BS in Statistics and an MS in Statistical Practice from Carnegie-Mellon University. Topic: When You Consult a Statistician…What to Expect There are often misconceptions regarding whether a statistical consultation is needed for a research project, the appropriate timing of a consultation and what to expect when working with a statistician. We will discuss when it is useful to consult a statistician, the responsibilities of statistician and client, and features of successful and not so successful consulting sessions. We will also discuss ethics as applied to statistical consulting. Topic: Data Manipulation and Preparation with SAS Preparing a dataset for analysis can often be a time-consuming and tedious process. We will discuss techniques in SAS to efficiently clean and transform the “messy” data that commonly makes its way to an analyst’s desk. Importing external data, common SAS functions, graphing, and file management techniques will be reviewed. This back-to-basics talk is geared toward beginner/intermediate SAS programmers, but advanced programmers are encouraged to attend to enhance discussion! Topic: Bibliometrics: A Practical Approach Topic: An Overview of the Design and Analysis of Non-inferiority Trials Topic: How to Manage Data: What you should know and why you should care Topic: Data Visualization & Statistical Graphics: What to do and what not to do when displaying statistical data BERD: An Overview of Services Offered The CTSI’s Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Research Design (BERD) program provides researchers with support in designing and carrying out research at the design, implementation, and analysis stages. Joseph Massaro, PhD: Power Calculations A confirmatory study on a sample from a population tests a pre-specified hypothesis, such as assessing if a certain risk factor or a certain treatment is related to a clinical outcome. A well-designed confirmatory study has a large probability that the study can indeed detect such a relationship as long as that relationship truly exists in the population. Here we discuss how a study’s sample size directly relates to this probability (defined as “Power”), how to determine a sample size to provide adequate power and to minimize probabilities of false study conclusions, and how mistakes can be made in determining the appropriate sample size of a study and the consequences of those mistakes. BUSPH Data Coordinating Center: SAS UTF & SAS for Windows Are you an intermediate-level SAS user? Learn some new programming techniques to enhance your data management and statistical analysis skills at a seminar featuring presentations by two of the senior SAS programming staff of the BUSPH Data Coordinating Center. Theodore Colton, ScD: Biostatistics and the BUMC IRB: Then and Now As a past member for over ten years of one (and then two) of BUMC’s IRB panels, Theodore Colton, ScD, reflects on the key biostatistical issues confronted with during review of new IRB protocols that entailed full board review. With new leadership of the IRB since January 2015, Dr. Colton describes the current status of biostatistics in IRB review of protocols. Mary-Elizabeth (“M-E”) Eddlestone: PROC SQL vs. DATA Step Programming Everyone wants to know: Should I use the DATA step or PROC SQL to join this data? Take a behind the scenes look at how the DATA step and SQL procedure process data by comparing all types of joins (inner, left/right, outer) with multiple types of data (one-to-one, one-to many, many-to-many). Medrio: Electronic Data Capture Software Medrio is a browser based software for data collection in clinical trials (electronic data capture) with no programming. Medrio’s M-edu is a new product free to Universities for investigator initiated or university funded trials. Medrio users can create, configure, and manage their study themselves. Medrio is fully HIPAA and 21 CRF part 11 compliant. BUSPH Data Coordinating Center: Demystifying SAS Macros Tired of inefficient copying and pasting in your SAS code? Want to automatically populate output with key dates or numbers? Save time with SAS macros! Learn more about programming and using SAS macros with real world examples. This seminar will include an overview of macro structure, including detailed syntax examples and an explanation of macro libraries. Recommended for all SAS programmers and analysts. Consultation Session on Charles River Campus This FREE drop-in consultation session will be offered to provide help with REDCap, research study design, and statistical analysis. Drop-in between 12 – 1 PM with your questions! The consultation session is open to all researchers and students. John Putzke, Ph.D., MSPH: Study Electronic Data Capture: StudyTRAX Please join us for an overview of StudyTRAX [an integrated survey and study management electronic data capture (EDC) system]. A comparison of reasons, factors and issues related to choosing between StudyTRAX and REDCap will also be reviewed. James Harrison: Medrio eClinical Software Demo James Harrison, Medrio Scholars Manager, will present an intro and demo of Medrio Scholars, a web-based software for data collection in clinical trials [electronic data capture (EDC)] that requires no programming. John Putzke, Ph.D., MSPH: Study Electronic Data Capture: StudyTRAX Please join us for an overview of StudyTRAX [an integrated survey and study management electronic data capture (EDC) system]. A comparison of reasons, factors and issues related to choosing between StudyTRAX and REDCap will also be reviewed. John Putzke, Ph.D., MSPH: Study Electronic Data Capture: StudyTRAX and REDCap Please join us for an overview of StudyTRAX [an integrated survey and study management electronic data capture (EDC) system]. A comparison of reasons, factors and issues related to choosing between StudyTRAX and REDCap will also be reviewed. Jenna Ryan: Introduction to Research Data Management Resources at BU This tutorial will introduce attendees to basics of research data management best practices and to the resources available at BU for data management. Topics will include data movement and storage, backups, file formats, metadata, data organization, provenance, archiving, sharing, access control, and dissemination. Michael Farr: Medrio Scholars EDC Software Demo Please join us for a webinar introduction and demo of Medrio Scholars, a web-based software for data collection in clinical trials [electronic data capture (EDC)] with no programming. Medrio is now free to Universities for investigator-initiated, government or university funded trials. Support via email is also free. Medrio users can create, configure, and manage their study themselves. Medrio is fully HIPAA and 21 CRF part 11 compliant. John Putzke, Ph.D., MSPH: Study Electronic Data Capture: StudyTRAX and REDCap Please join us for an introduction of StudyTRAX [an integrated survey and study management electronic data capture (EDC) system]. In addition to a StudyTRAX overview, this presentation will also provide a comparison overview of REDCap and StudyTRAX. We will compare reasons, factors and issues related to choosing between these two EDC applications. Erik Brisson: Research Computing Facilities available through IS&T Scientific Computing and Visualization The Scientific Computing and Visualization (SCV) group within Information Services & Technology at BU provides specialized computing and communication resources in support of computational science and engineering, scientific visualization, and other disciplines that require high-performance computing or complex visualization. The supercomputing facilities provided by the group include an Intel and AMD-based Linux cluster with over 1500 processors and a 1024-node IBM Blue Gene system. Our group is composed of 16 staff members committed to supporting research computing at BU. This talk will introduce our computing and visualization hardware, software, and services, and show some examples of simulation and visualization that have been performed on our systems. We will describe how to access these facilities, and how to obtain training and consulting. We discuss the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC – the new data center in Holyoke), as well as potential computing resources available beyond BU. Hopefully there will be time for some group discussion about what services might be of most benefit to the attendees’ research communities. These resources are managed in close consultation with the Research Computing Governance Committee, BU Medical Campus IT, the BU Center for Computational Science, and the Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. Research Computing A’Llyn Ettien: Upcoming Changes to Public Access Policy Reporting John Putzke, Ph.D., MSPH: Study Electronic Data Capture: StudyTRAX and REDCap Please join us for an introduction of StudyTRAX (an integrated survey and study management electronic data capture (EDC) system). In addition to a StudyTRAX overview, this presentation will also provide a comparison overview of REDCap and StudyTRAX. We will compare reasons, factors and issues related to choosing between these two EDC applications. BUSPH Data Coordinating Center: Tips and Tricks for Intermediate SAS Users Are you an intermediate-level SAS user? Learn some new programming techniques to enhance your data management and statistical analysis skills at a seminar featuring presentations by three of the senior SAS programming staff of the BUSPH Data Coordinating Center. Presenters and topics will include: This seminar is intended for researchers with intermediate-level SAS programming experience. Attendees will learn new SAS programming skills with practical applications for their work. REDCap Users Group Are you using REDCap? Or are you thinking about using REDCap? Need help getting your projects started in REDCap? Whether you’ve never seen REDCap before or you’re on your way to becoming a real pro, join us for our first REDCap software users group! This users group will provide a meeting space for REDCap Q&A and real-time help. All skill levels are welcome, so join us and bring your questions & share your experiences! Young-Joo Lee: Understanding and Complying with the NIH Public Access Policy CTSI Toolbox: An overview of research software now readily available to BU investigators Erik Brisson, Associate Director: Scientific Computing and Visualization, IS&T Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, Mary-Tara Roth, RN, Linda Rosen, MSEE, Mary Aldrich, RN, and Kimberly Russell-Lucas, MPH, CCRP: Clinical Research Resources and Facilities William Adams, MD: i2b2 Christopher Shanahan, MD, MPH: BU Profiles2018
Presenter: Howard Cabral, PhD, MPH
Date: Thursday, April 12, 2018
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Presenter: David R. Gagnon, MD, PhD
Date: Thursday, March 1, 2018
View presentation video
Presenter: John Putzke, Ph.D., MSPH
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2018
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• Identify common factors associated with subject dropout and missing data
• Recognize the challenges that delay data analysis and publication of results
• Appraise software strategies for engaging subjects and finding results quicker2017
Presenter: Ellen Gurary, PhD Candidate, Biostatistics
Date: Thursday, December 7th, 2017
View presentation video
Presenter: Janice Weinberg, ScD
Date: Thursday, November 2nd
View presentation video
Presenter: Emily K.Q. Sisson
Thursday, June 15, 2017
View presentation slides here
Audio only
Presenter: David Flynn, MS(LIS)
Thursday, April 20, 2017
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Presenter: Howard Cabral, PhD
Thursday, February 2, 20172016
Presenter: Christine Chaisson, MPH
Thursday, December 15, 2016
View presentation slides here
Presenter: Samantha Lent
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016BERD Services Offered:
Professor of Biostatistics, Mathematics and Statistics
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Medical School Instructional Building (Building L), Room L210
View presentation slides here2015
Sharon Coleman & Emily Sisson
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Medical School Instructional Building (Building L), Room L109C
View presentation slides here
Professor, SPH Epidemiology
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Medical School Instructional Building (Building L), Room L206
Analytics Specialist, SAS Institute Inc.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Crosstown Center, CT-462
View presentation slides here
2014
Chris Fortier, Associate Account Executive
Maura King, Medrio Solutions Engineer
Friday, December 12, 2014
m-edu.medrio.com
Thursday, November 20, 2014
View presentation slides here
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
College of Arts & Sciences, Room CAS 424
President and Founder, ScienceTRAX, LLC
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Manager, Medrio Scholars
Thursday, March 27, 2014
President and Founder, ScienceTRAX, LLC
Thursday, February 27, 20142013
President and Founder, ScienceTRAX, LLC
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Science Reference Librarian, Science & Engineering Library, Head of the BU Libraries Data Management Working Group
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Research Data Management
Manager, Medrio Scholars
Thursday, May 30, 2013
President and Founder, ScienceTRAX, LLC
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Associate Director, IS&T
Thursday, March 28, 2013
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Head of Technical Services, Boston University, Alumni Medical Library
Thursday, February 28, 2013 2012
President and Founder, ScienceTRAX, LLC
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
View presentation slides here
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Education and Information Services Librarian, Alumni Medical Library
Thursday, October 25, 2012
View presentation slides here
Thursday, September 6, 2012
View presentation slides here
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Research Computing
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Clinical Research Resources
Thursday, April 5, 2012
i2b2
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
BU Profiles
