Methodology Core

生物统计学副教授Paul J. Nietert博士将担任MCRC方法核心的主要研究员（主任）。他将由V. Ramakrishnan博士（生物统计学教授），谁将担任副主任，Bethany Wolf博士（生物统计学助理教授）和Paula拉莫斯博士协助。该核心的总体目标是为MCRC研究者提供严格的方法学和生物统计学支持，并领导对风湿性疾病的种族/民族成分的研究，这些研究集中在方法学领域，包括基因x基因和基因x环境相互作用的研究。 方法学核心将服务于中心的所有拟议项目以及任何未来的试点项目，不仅提供方法学和生物统计学支持，而且还提供重要的教学功能，例如定期会议，以介绍和评论中心研究人员的提案和草稿。在MUSC之前的MCRC（2003-2008）中，Nietert博士是主要合作生物统计学家（40% FTE）和联合主任。他目前是南卡罗来纳州临床和转化研究（SCTR）研究所的生物统计流行病学和研究设计项目主任，该研究所是我们机构的临床和转化科学奖。这一经历为他提供了领导多个项目并协助制定转化研究方案的机会，包括小型试点项目和大型临床试验。Nietert博士和Ramakrishnan博士在通过生物统计核心设施促进研究发展方面拥有丰富的经验，Wolf博士自获得博士学位以来还在两个这样的实体（我们的癌症中心和我们的CTSA计划）中工作。拉莫斯博士将提供额外的专业知识，特别是在遗传学数据分析领域。硕士培训的统计学家谁将帮助我们，斯蒂芬妮Shaftman，硕士，MS，已经与流变学家合作了7年，也将有助于使我们的核心强大。方法核心的具体目标是提供1）数据管理; 2）生物统计合作; 3）新型生物统计方法开发;和4）临床研究方法的教学培训。除了参与每个主要的MCRC项目外，核心将与我们研究基地的研究人员合作，这些研究人员将获得试点项目资金，并在他们的方法专业领域内研究研究问题。

Dr. Paul J. Nietert, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, will serve as the Principal Investigator (Director) for the MCRC Methodology Core. He will be assisted by Dr. V. Ramakrishnan (Professor of Biostatistics), who will serve as Associate Director, Dr. Bethany Wolf (Assistant Professor of Biostatistics), and Dr. Paula Ramos. The overall objective of this Core is to provide rigorous methodological and biostatistical support to the MCRC investigators and to lead investigations into racial/ethnic components of rheumatic disease that are focused in methodological areas including studies of gene x gene and gene x environment interactions. The Methodology Core will serve all proposed projects as well as any future pilot projects of the Center, not only by providing methodological and biostatistical support, but also by providing important teaching functions, e.g. regular meetings for presentation and critique of proposals and draft manuscripts by Center investigators. In MUSC's prior MCRC (2003-2008), Dr. Nietert was the primary collaborating biostatistician (40% FTE) and co-Director. He is currently the Director of the Biostatistics Epidemiology and Research Design Program Director within the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, our institution's Clinical and Translational Science Award. This experience has provided him with opportunities to lead multiple projects and assist with development of translational research protocols, including small pilot projects and large clinical trials. Dr. Nietert and Dr. Ramakrishnan have extensive experience in facilitating the development of research through biostatistical core facilities, and Dr. Wolf has also worked within two of such entities (our cancer center and our CTSA program) since receiving her PhD. Dr. Ramos will provide additional expertise specifically in the area of analyses of genetics data. The master's trained statistician who will assist us, Ms. Stephanie Shaftman, MSc, MS, has collaborated with rheumatologists for 7 years, and will also help make our Core strong. The specific aims of the Methodology Core will be to provide 1) data management; 2) biostatistical collaboration; 3) novel biostatistics methods development; and 4) didactic training in clinical research methodology. In addition to participating in each of the major MCRC projects, the Core will collaborate with investigators from our research base who receive pilot project funding as well as examine research questions within their areas of methodological expertise.