Integrated Biostatistical Training for CVD Research

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请建议更新生物统计学博士前培训的新颖综合计划，重点是为心血管疾病研究的职业做好准备。在这个激动人心的心血管疾病研究时代，有能力应对持续和新出现的挑战的熟练生物统计学家的严重短缺要求进行培训，正式整合在多学科环境中合作的深厚和持续经验，掌握有效应用复杂生物统计技术所需的统计理论基础，并研究开发新方法。并且非常强调沟通和领导能力。该项目将由北卡罗来纳州立大学（NCSU）统计学系和杜克临床研究所（DCRI）共同努力，充分利用世界上最大的统计学研究生项目之一与同类中最大的研究机构之间的现有合作伙伴关系，该研究机构拥有国际知名的心血管疾病研究前沿研究人员。该项目为期5年，每年有5个培训名额，将在NCSU严格学习统计理论，包括概率论、推理、线性等统计模型，测量理论和高级概率论，高级统计推理，统计方法，包括临床试验设计/分析，纵向数据分析，生存分析和前沿专题；生物学和心血管医学基础方面的培训；研究责任和伦理方面的课程；以及在沟通和领导技能方面广泛的正式和经验培训。受训人员将逐步被介绍到DCRI的心血管疾病研究中，逐步发展为全面的协作学徒制，使他们成为DCRI项目团队的职能成员。通过这两个学徒和正式的课程和研讨会，受训者将发展广泛的工作知识和心血管医学专业知识，这将使他们在完成项目后立即为心血管疾病研究做出贡献。受训者将被分配一个机构间指导小组，由每个地点的一级和二级生物统计学家导师和DCRI的二级临床医生导师组成，他们将合作指导他们的各个方面。论文研究将涉及开发和评估新的统计方法，灵感来自于学员在心血管疾病研究合作中遇到的挑战。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application proposes renewal of a novel, integrated program for predoctoral training in biostatistics focused on preparing trainees for careers in cardiovascular disease research. The critical shortage of skilled biostatisticians equipped to address ongoing and emerging challenges in this exciting era of cardiovascular disease research calls for training that formally integrates deep and sustained experience in collaboration in a multidisciplinary environment, mastery of the theoretical underpinnings of statistics required for valid application of sophisticated biostatistical techniques and for research on development of new methodology, and strong emphasis on communication and leadership skills. The program will be a joint effort of the Department of Statistics at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), capitalizing on an existing partnership between one of the largest graduate programs in statistics in the world and a research institution that is the largest of its kind and home to internationally-known researchers at the forefront of cardiovascular disease research. The five-year program will support five (5) trainees slots in each year and will involve rigorous study at NCSU of statistical theory, including probability, inference, linear and other statistical models, measure theory and advanced probability, and advanced statistical inference, and statistical methods, including clinical trials design/analysis, longitudinal data analysis, survival analysis, and cutting-edge special topics; training in fundamental aspects of biology and cardiovascular medicine; course work in research responsibility and ethics; and extensive formal and experiential training in communication and leadership skills. Trainees will be introduced to DCRI cardiovascular disease research gradually, evolving to a full collaborative apprenticeship in which they are integrated as functioning members of DCRI project teams. Through both this apprenticeship and formal courses and seminars, trainees will develop extensive working knowledge and expertise in cardiovascular medicine that will position them to make immediate contributions to cardiovascular disease research upon completion of the program. Trainees will be assigned an inter- institutional mentorship team consisting of primary and secondary biostatistician mentors at each site and a secondary clinician mentor at DCRI, who will collaborate in guiding them through all aspects. Dissertation research will involve development and evaluation of novel statistical methodology inspired by challenges encountered in trainees' cardiovascular disease research collaborations.