Biostatistics Core

DM&SC Abstract The Study on Interactions between SARS-CoV-2 infection and Ancestral genomic Variations in the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (ISAVRAD) is an international, multi-site study to characterize individuals from ancestral populations, including Amerindians from the Andes mountains and Africans from Nigeria, as well as from individuals with variable admixture from Southern Texas (Mexican Americans), Seattle (no-tribal Native Americans) and the Bronx (Hispanic/Latinos and African Americans) using a uniform protocol. Characterization at baseline includes descriptions of the COVID-19 disease severity, vaccination status, date of documented infection and identity of the prevalent virus variant at each site at the time of infection and whole genome sequencing, as well as deep phenotyping and longitudinal follow up of neurological, cognitive and neuroimaging signatures that may detect cognitive decline or dementia as long-term sequelae of the SARS- CoV-2 infection. The Data Management and Statistics Core (DM&SC) is one of 4 Cores supporting the scientific research activities of the four ISAVRAD Program Projects and is responsible for management, reporting and sharing of raw and meta-data generated by the Clinical and Neuroimaging Cores; from NIA ADSP components (NCRAD, NIAGADS and GCAD); and from ISAVRAD Projects, to allow completion of the proposed aims and foster collaboration within and outside the ISVRAD network. Led by the two Informatics and Statistics Core leaders for the South Texas Alzheimer’s Center, the DM&SC is equipped with advanced informatics, data management, and statistical infrastructure and expertise to meet these specialized needs. Drs Zozus and Sanns boast decades of experience providing comprehensive coordinating center support for clinical studies and offer extensive practical knowledge of regulatory-grade data handling requirements and methods. Drs. Wang and Himali provide design and analysis expertise. The DM&SC will provide reliable processes for the recording, management, storing and sharing of data and metadata within and outside the ISAVRAD network to support the mission of the other cores and foster the completion of the Projects aims and collaborative efforts, with the goals of aligning ISAVRAD data with appropriate standards to maximize data reuse (Aim 1); providing information systems and expert support for data and sample collection and management (Aim 2); and urating and preparing data for external sharing through national repositories.