Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core

CORE B: ABSTRACT The Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core (Core B) is a central component of the Prostate SPORE, providing state-of-the-art integrated data science support to all Prostate SPORE projects. Database development and maintenance will provide a centralized resource for data tracking for preclinical studies, ensuring efficient reporting and statistical analysis of all experiments. In addition, clinical databases will be enhanced and developed in conjunction with all project teams to complement existing clinical trial data registries at Northwestern and ensure custom data capture in a highly secure environment. Bioinformatics activities of Core B are central to discovery and will help define new and significant research directions. The large omics data sets that will be generated in the Prostate SPORE Projects require specialized expertise for preprocessing, analysis and interpretation of molecular and biological consequences of genetic manipulations and treatments. Bioinformatics functionality provided by Core B will provide this crucial assistance for all proposed Prostate SPORE Projects. Biostatistical activities of Core B are central to the concerns of rigor and reproducibility: by providing study design guidance, data management, statistical analysis and consultation for interpretation of results the core will see that reported results have been rigorously controlled and will be reproducible by others. All functions of the Core B will be conducted in association with the following Specific Aims: AIM 1: Maintain and enhance the pre-clinical, clinical and tissue databases of the Prostate SPORE; AIM 2: Provide state-of-the-art bioinformatics expertise to the Prostate SPORE projects; AIM 3: Provide experimental design guidance and biostatistics collaboration and analysis support for all preclinical studies and clinical trials Through these activities Core B will serve as a key contributor to all individual projects and will ensure that project output is accurate, reliable, and of the highest quality.