San Antonio OAIC - Biostatistics and Informatics Resource Core 4 (BIRC4)

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – BIOSTATISTICS AND INFORMATICS RESOURCE CORE 4 The goals of the Biostatistics and Informatics Resource Core 4 (BIRC4) of the San Antonio Older Americans Independence Center (SA OAIC) provide: 1) biostatistical and bioinformatics support and expertise; and 2) centralized research information services to ensure ready access and superior data quality to OAIC members. The Core will greatly facilitate data sharing and integrated analyses with the SA OAIC’s main theme: “Translational geroscience to improve health and functional independence of all older adults”. The Specific Aims of the BIRC4 are: 1. Provide OAIC projects and investigators access to comprehensive and cutting-edge informatics, information systems, and data management such as centralized volunteer registration, including nonmedical drivers of health (NMDH) and geocoding. 2. Provide biostatistics and informatics support and expertise for the OAIC, including study design, reviews of ongoing trials within clinicaltrial.gov related to pilot studies, custom power analysis, protocol development and planning, EHR-based feasibility analysis, oversight for Bayesian and frequentist statistical analyses, trial dashboards, and collaboration with statistical and informatics methods. 3. Create the next generation of OAIC data science-driven researchers through training in informatics and additional biostatistics expertise, didactics, and hands-on training in computational techniques and the various data sources needed for state-of-the-art aging research. 4. Collaborate on Developmental projects focused on data analytic aspects of translational geroscience. The significance of BIRC4 is related to: 1) Expanding the data infrastructure across OAIC projects and data sources, enhancing accessibility of the use of EHR data for multiple OAIC projects, and sharing available data with other OAICs and programs; 2) Serving as the key resource for design, analysis, and interpretation; 3) Mentoring REC scholars; and 4) Developing and adapting novel analytical methods to improve validity, utility and impact of the results deriving from OAIC research. The BIRC4 has new capabilities including automatic transfer data from the EHR to study databases, geocoding nonmedical determinants, Bayesian designs for feasibility studies, an AI Chat Bot that matches relevant OAIC resources to investigator needs, and Xiaojing Wang, PhD has bioinformatics expertise that will complement the new MPRC3.