Analytics Core

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics

The goal of the Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics Core is to provide feedback on how data could be used to support the design and implementation of new research. These include outcome choices most relevant to older adults (e.g. toxicity and function), inclusion of those most likely to have the disease (e.g. pragmatic trial designs), and sample size/power issues for inclusion of sufficient numbers of older adults. In addition, experience with existing datasets that best address these issues requires specific expertise.

CORE MISSION

• Serve as central resource of expertise and counseling in epidemiology, biostatistics, and research design to advance cancer and aging research nationally
• Provide national statistic design support to accelerate high-quality research at aging and cancer interface for investigators at all stages of research process
• Help investigators generate scientifically sound hypotheses, identify right datasets or alternatives, use appropriate methods, collect accurate exposure and outcome data, and interpret/analyze results
• Support geographically disparate but committed group of interdisciplinary CARG investigators
• Provide central resource of statistical and trial design support to investigators studying older adults with cancer

CORE FUNCTION

• Provision of expert consultations through making aging-specific recommendations on study design, data selection, sample size/power calculations, and statistical analysis plans
• Link investigators with datasets for secondary data analysis, study design for pilot data, toolbox of methods and analytical plans for utilizing data, and informatics guide to best use data
• Foster opportunity for collaborations with other Cores to coordinate design
• Additional members provide diverse knowledge, expertise, and experience in fields

CORE MEMBERS

Melissa Loh, MBBCh BAO, MS
Junior Investigator Lead

Beverly Canin
Patient Advocate Board: SCOREboard Co-Chair

Efrat Dotan, MD
Member

Eva Culakova
Member

Huiwen Xu, PhD
Member

Louise Walter, MD
Organizational Liaisons Co-Chair

Lynn Murphy
Patient Advocate Board: SCOREboard Member

Mackenzie Fowler, PhD
Member

Melody Schiaffino, PhD, MPH
Member

Rachel Freedman, MD, MPH
Member

Surbhi Singhal, PhD
Member

CORE PUBLICATION

• Sedrak MS, Li D, Walter LC, Mustian K, High KP, Canin B, Mohile SG, Dale W, Sun CL. Cores for geriatric oncology infrastructure in the cancer and aging research group: Biostatistics, epidemiology, and research design (the analytics core). J Geriatr Oncol. 2019 Jul 17;. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2019.07.013. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31326391; NIHMSID:NIHMS1535262. Link

Public Datasets for GeriOnc Research

Core Inquiry: If you have research inquiry for this Core, please complete the Research Inquiry Form here