Jason Liao, Ph.D.
Core Director
717-531-0003-ext281339
jliao@HES.hmc.psu.edu
Eric Schaefer, M.S.
Biostatistician/Scientific
Coordinator
717-531-4234
eschaefe@HES.hmc.psu.edu
The mission of biostatistics
core is to provide high
quality biostatistics
support in design and data
analysis for investigators
in the Penn State Cancer
Institute. We collaborate in
the full spectrum of cancer
research from basic science
to translational research to
clinical trials to cancer
prevention.
Our biostatistics support
includes:
-
Choose the optimal
design that answers the
research questions most
efficiently and
directly. Determine
power and sample size.
-
Select the most reliable
and relevant endpoints
and measurements for a
particular study.
-
Perform expert data
analysis that fully
utilizes the information
in the data. Ensure data
integrity and
state-of-the-art data
analysis practices.
-
Ensure that study
results are accurately
and effectively
communicated in
manuscripts and
scientific
presentations.
-
Provide input in design
and analysis in
“brainstorm” meetings
with investigators to
develop new research
initiatives.
Our areas of expertise
include:
-
Design and analysis of
clinical trials from
Phase 1 to Phase 3.
-
Survival data analysis.
-
Longitudinal data,
hierarchical models, and
mixed effects
regression.
-
Prediction models for
cancer risk, treatment
response and
prognostics. Statistical
methods in personalized
medicine.
-
Microarray gene
expression data.
Multiple testing.
-
Design and analysis of
population and
epidemiological studies.
The Core currently supports
three statistical packages:
SAS, R and Stata.
We work with investigators
in two ways. One is as
biostatistician and
co-investigator in funded
projects in which we
participate in all stages of
protocol development.
Second, we provide free
service to Cancer Institute
investigators for smaller
projects when no funding is
available.
Please contact us for your
biostatistics needs. Contact
core director Jason Liao for
all new grant applications.
