Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource

University Of Colorado Denver, Aurora CO

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Overview: The University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC) Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource (BBSR) supports UCCC members and other Shared Resources (SRs) by providing biostatistical and bioinformatic expertise and services for laboratory-based research, experimental therapeutic studies, population sciences research, and clinical trials. Services: The BBSR provides biostatistical and bioinformatics support at all stages of projects. Pre-study assistance includes study design, sample-size calculations, and statistical/bioinformatic planning as needed for grant and clinical trial development. The BBSR also provides consultation and safety monitoring of clinical trials. Data analysis is provided in the form of statistical methodologies, interactive data analysis software, and assistance in preparing manuscripts and follow-up grant applications. The BBSR participates in the Protocol Review and Monitoring System (PRMS) and Data and Safety Monitoring Committees (DSMC). Expertise: The BBSR is comprised of 8 PhD-, 4 Master's-, and 2 Bachelor's- level researchers who collectively offer substantial expertise in clinical trial design and analysis, longitudinal data analyses, confounder adjustment, multi-omic data analysis, software development, predictive modeling, and cancer-focused bioinformatics. Management: The BBSR is comprised of two equal, collaborative, but distinct components – biostatistics and bioinformatics. Both are financially managed by the UCCC and overseen by the Associate Director of Basic Research, H Ford. Use of Services: Since 2016, the BBSR has worked with 236 investigators. UCCC members representing all 4 programs account for ~85% of the total effort for the period and resulted in 136 publications, 28% of which have an IF>10; and 38 funded grants. Operating Budget: CCSG support represents 39% of the annual budget, with the remainder from direct grant support for BBSR staff (16%), chargebacks (17%) and institutional funds (28%). Innovation and Development: The BBSR has contributed to UCCC members' research through development of interactive analysis platforms that researchers use to explore their own large datasets. These platforms have been heavily utilized by UCCC members (7472 analysis hours in FY2020). BBSR is also developing data analysis tools to assist other SRs and their users. Consultation and Education: The BBSR contributes to UCCC members' research by conducting one-on-one training and hosting a monthly seminar series focused on bridging gaps between experimental wet lab research, new technologies (e.g. MIBI, single cell sequencing), and the biostatistical and bioinformatic analysis methods for associated data. Future Directions: The landscape in cancer research is continually changing with new technologies (e.g., multispectral, spatial imaging) and methodology (e.g., adaptive clinical trial design) being developed to advance our basic and clinical understanding of cancer. Bioinformatics and biostatistics are critical to this increasing shift to data-driven and digital research. To accommodate future growth in this space, the BBSR will acquire expertise in needed areas through targeted training and hiring of new staff to align with the UCCC Strategic Plan.