Biostatistical Research Group
The Biostatistics Research Group (BRG) provides:- a base and a focal point for faculty and graduate students who develop and disseminate theory and methods for data analysis in the health and life sciences; and
- a resource for researchers who seek such support.
Topics of recent and current methodological research include designs for clinical trials, stochastic modeling of processes in cancer, methods for the analysis of epidemiological data, models for dose response experiments, modeling to assess synergism between drugs, measures of association and agreement, diagnostic accuracy, drug screening experiments, modeling of longitudinal categorical data, intra-laboratory comparisons, and Markov and hidden Markov models for multi-state phenomena.
Application areas of collaborative research are also diverse, encompassing cancer and its precursors, health promotion in gerontology and dentistry, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease in neurology, low-tension glaucoma in ophthalmology, infectious diseases, paediatrics, and studies of the relationships between air pollution and human health.
A substantial proportion of both our M.Sc. and Ph.D. students have written their theses on biostatistical topics. Many of these former students are now employed in health sciences research environments, either in Vancouver or elsewhere. Others occupy faculty positions in colleges and universities in various countries.
The Biostatistics Research Group was established in the spring of 1991 as an informal research group. The objective was to create a mechanism to facilitate and promote interactions among researchers at UBC and in the greater Vancouver area who are actively involved in development of biostatistical methodology and application of such methodology to scientific problems in the health and life sciences. Individuals who volunteered to serve as the initial executive of the BRG included Andrew Coldman, Ned Glick, Nancy Heckman, Harry Joe, John Petkau, Martin Puterman, Michael Schulzer, and James Zidek. The executive oversees the activities of the BRG and leads this informal research group in developing new initiatives and undertaking new activities. Beyond this, there is no formal membership in the BRG; rather, members identify themselves by active involvement in BRG activities.
To promote research and to communicate developments in biostatisticaltheory, methods, and computing, the Biostatistics Research Group sponsors:
- Biostatistics Research Seminars, featuring local or invited speakers;
- BRG Journal Club discussions of biostatistics methods in the recent literature; and
- BRG Working Sessions for interactive discussions of participants' research in progress.
