Biostatistics Shared Resource

The Biostatistics Shared Resource (BSR) is a centralized resource that provides state-of-the-art biostatistical support for investigators conducting cancer research at Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC). Advances in biotechnologies and computing hardware/software have greatly increased the need for sophisticated statistical methodologies, and biostatistics is an essential component in ensuring high-quality cancer research, particularly in clinical and translational research. BSR biostatisticians play important integrated roles in each of the SCCC Research Programs. The formats of these productive collaborations include pre- award project and clinical trial development as well as post-award, project-oriented statistical services. SCCC research covers the full spectrum of the translational pipeline, ranging from basic science experiments, biomarker studies, investigator-initiated clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents and procedures, to population- based studies. The BSR faculty also offers workshops, office consultations, seminars, and courses on study design, analysis methods, and software implementation to fellows, research staff, and faculty. The BSR is led by Chul Ahn, PhD, a distinguished biostatistician with a national and international reputation for his statistical designs and analyses of cancer research and cancer clinical trials. BSR biostatisticians are also key contributing members of SCCC’s Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee (PRMC) and Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC), providing valuable independent statistical input. The BSR currently consists of efforts from five faculty biostatisticians and three analysts, providing all levels of biostatistics support. The services of the BSR were utilized by 178 members across five SCCC research programs from 2014-2019 and provided key data and insights to support the success of 68 new cancer-related extramurally funded grants, 96 cancer clinical trials, and 267 peer-reviewed publications, including work published in top tier journals such as JAMA, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Cancer, Nature Genetics, and Nature. Goals for the next funding period include recruiting additional biostatisticians to strengthen expertise in adaptive trial design.