Biostatistics | Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Working with a Biostatistician
The CCTS Biostatistics Core offers biostatistics support for health researchers at UIC. This support may be as limited as a brief conversation about how to approach your project. It may also be as involved as writing one of our consultants into your grant application and budget for a multi-year study.
No matter what type of support you need, understanding the role of a biostatistician and how to work with one can greatly improve the success of your projects. Below are some references addressing why you might work with a biostatistician, how to get started, and what to expect.
While we hope this resource list serves as a helpful starting point, we provide no guarantee of its comprehensiveness or of the accuracy or reliability of the works cited. For more information on this topic, or to request support, start by scheduling a free consultation.
De Gruttola, Victor and Henry Pickering Walcott (2014). What does a biostatistician do? https://web.archive.org/web/20240116193056/https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/what-does-a-biostatistician-do/. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
Ciolino, Jody D., Cathie Spino, Walter T. Ambrosius, et al. (2021). “Guidance for biostatisticians on their essential contributions to clinical and translational research protocol review”. In: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 5.1. ISSN: 2059-8661. DOI: 10.1017/cts.2021.814. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cts.2021.814.
Zapf, Antonia, Geraldine Rauch, and Meinhard Kieser (2020). “Why do you need a biostatistician?” In: BMC Medical Research Methodology 20.1. ISSN: 1471-2288. DOI: 10.1186/s12874-020-0916-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-0916-4.
Gillespie, Scott (2022). Best Practices for Partnering with a Biostatistician in your Research. https://pedsresearch.org/uploads/blog/doc/Best_Practices_for_Partnering_with_a_Biostatistician_in_your_Research_Final.pdf. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
Hall, Matt, Troy Richardson, Jay G. Berry, et al. (2016). “Collaborating With a Statistician: Bringing a Clinical Perspective to Statistics”. In: Hospital Pediatrics 6.12, p. 750–752. ISSN: 2154-1671. DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2016-0054. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2016-0054.
Lee, Jiha, Biren B. Kamdar, Jaclyn Bergstrom, et al. (2022). “Modeling success: How to work effectively with your biostatistician”. In: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 70.8, p. 2449–2454. ISSN: 1532-5415. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17888. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17888.
Matsui, Elizabeth C. (2013). The Care and Feeding of the Biostatistician. https://simplystatistics.org/posts/2013-10-08-the-care-and-feeding-of-the-biostatistician/. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
Pomann, G., L. Boulware, S. Cayetano, et al. (2021). The 12 Phases of the Biostatistics Collaboration Process. https://biostat.duke.edu/12-phases-biostatistics-collaboration-process. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
ACCORDS: Adult & Child Center for Health Outcomes Research & Delivery Science (2023). What We Do. https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/accords/cores-and-programs/biostatistics/what-we-do. Retrieved January 16, 2024. Includes links to ACCORDS Analytical Support Timelines and Guidelines for Estimating Biostatistician Effort and Resources on Grants.
Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center (BDAC) (2024). Finding and Working with a Biostatistician. https://biostats4you.umn.edu/finding-working-biostatistician. Retrieved January 16, 2024. Includes links to articles and other guidance on finding and working with a biostatistician.
Biostatistics, Epidemiology, & Research Design (2013). Guidelines for Estimating Biostatistician Effort and Resources on Grants. https://health.ucdavis.edu/media-resources/ctsc/documents/pdfs/ucdavis-biostat-effort-guidelines.pdf. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
Department of Biostatistics & Data Science (2024). Consulting & Collaboration. Retrieved January 16, 2024. Article includes an overview of the biostatistical consultation process and the responsibilities of the researcher client.
Pomann, G., L. Boulware, S. Cayetano, et al. (2021). The 12 Phases of the Biostatistics Collaboration Process. https://biostat.duke.edu/12-phases-biostatistics-collaboration-process. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
Samsa, Gregory P. (2018). “A Day in the Professional Life of a Collaborative Biostatistician Deconstructed: Implications for Curriculum Design”. In: Journal of Curriculum and Teaching 7.1, p. 20. ISSN: 1927-2677. DOI: 10.5430/jct.v7n1p20. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jct.v7n1p20.