BERD builds on a strong tradition of developing novel statistical methods and tolls that yield new insights on important research questions, that enable research, or that improve research efficiency.
Examples of current work:
Dr. Smith (Biostatistics) worked with Dr. Mezhir (Surgery)
Developed an interactive Bayesian model for prediction of lymph node ratio and survival in pancreatic cancer. New web development tools were created for an interactive web application on individualized patient prediction.
Dr. Cavanaugh (Biostatistics) & Ming Yang, PhD
Developed modeling frameworks for zero-inflated, over disperse count time series data, which was then used to analyze center line-associated bloodstream infections. An open source R software package (ZIM, Zero Inflated Models) was created to implement this modeling methodology.
Drs. Elizabeth Chrischilles (Epidemiology), Juan Pablo Hourcade (Computer Science), and David Eichmann (Library Sciences)
Developed an online personal health record (Iowa PHR) with user-centered design features through an AHRQ award. Subsequently, the Iowa PHR was adapted as a flexible platform for delivering patient interventions and is now used in two NHLBI multi-center trials let by Dr. Carter (Pharmacy).
In both trials, Iowa PHR supports pharmacist-based interventions to improve chronic disease management but operates in two different data collection environments. In one of the trials, Iowa PHR imports EMR data from the Statistics Coordinating Center and presents the data to clinical pharmacists to use in delivering patient interventions. In the other trial, site coordinators enter EMR data directly into the Iowa PHR.
Dr. Coffee (Biostatistics)
Dr. Coffee brings expertise in adaptive trial design and is PI of the data coordinating centers for several multi-site networks, including NeuroNEXT.
He is also the PI of a NINDS study on the prevention of migraine headache in children. This study includes a comparative effectiveness component that could have benefited from an adaptive design, but sufficient methods were not available at the time of study planning to justify their use.
This led to a collaboration with Dr. Karialla and Dr. Muller of the University of Florida and a CTSA supplement award for adaptive designs for comparative effectiveness trials.
Help the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa continue making new strides in medical research by citing the NIH CTSA program grant UM1TR004403.