The primary objective of the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Facility (BBSF) is to serve as a focal point from which the Center's investigators may draw statistical and bioinformatic expertise for planning, management and analysis of their studies.

Specific Aims of the Medical Statistics Section:

1. Coordinate and manage statistical and bioinformatic activities in the Cancer Center to ensure that investigators have ready access to statistical and bioinformatic consultation and support.
2. Provide statistical expertise in study design, including research proposal development, sample size determination and power calculation, randomization procedures, data collection form design, and plans for interim reviews and final analysis.
3. Provide data analysis for Cancer Center projects using contemporary statistical and bioinformatic methodologies.
4. Maintain the clinical trial protocol and patient registration data management system for the Cancer Center Clinical Studies Unit and further develop protocol specific databases for the Center's clinical trials.
5. Develop and manage a comprehensive database for each of the Center's four SPOREs (breast, ovarian, brain and pancreatic) to serve as a multidisciplinary research resource for SPORE investigators.
6. Develop and manage web-based data management systems for the Center's Gene Expression and Mass Spectroscopy/Proteomic Shared Facilities.
7. Develop and manage image storage, retrieval and analysis system for the Center's Small Animal Image Shared Facility.
8. Be an active participant and collaborator of the NCI's Cancer Bioinformatics Grid (caBIG) Initiatives , particularly in regard to the development of an effective informatic system for tissue bank and pathology in conjunction with the Center's Tissue Procurement Facility.
9. Maintain a computing facility with up-to-date software for data management, data analysis, and network communications to support Cancer Center investigators, and support the Cancer Center's Data Sharing Plan according to the NIH Data Sharing Policy.
10. Perform methodology research in biostatistics and bioinformatics that will enhance the BBU's technical capabilities and requirements in providing collaborative research support.
11. Provide training opportunities and education in biostatistics and bioinformatics to graduate students, oncology residents, fellows and Cancer Center investigators regarding the applications of statistical principles to cancer research.

Collaboration

The MSS has collaborated with UAB research centers including the CCC, General Clinical Research Center, the Center for AIDS Research, the Clinical Nutrition Research Center, Liver Center and the Lung Health Center, particularly as their research interests relate to those of the Cancer Center. We also have interacted closely with Dr. David Allison’s Statistical Genetics Section in the School of Public Health regarding statistical genetics, and with Dr. Bharat Soni’s group in the School of Engineering regarding high performance computing.

Committees Served

MSS faculty have served on a large number of review, research, planning and evaluation committees, including those listed below and others:

UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center : Director’s Council, Scientific Review Committee, Membership Committee (chair), Clinical Studies Review Committee, Cancer Prevention and Control Planning Committee, Community Outreach Committee, Annual Research Retreat Committee, Breast SPORE Executive Committee, Ovarian SPORE Executive Committee, Microarray Facility Oversight Committee (chair), K-12 Clinical Research Mentorship Program Executive Committee.

UAB Internal: UAB Hospital Tumor Registry Committee and Cancer Service Committee, Scientific Review Committee for the General Clinical Research Center, K-30 Clinical Research Training Program Executive Committee and Trainee Selection Committee (chair).

External: Statewide Cancer Registry Advisory Committee, Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Coalition, Advisory Council of the Alabama Central Cancer Registry, Steering Committee of the AIDS Associated Malignancies Consortium, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Statistical Committee (chair) and NIH grant and contract reviews and site visits.