Biostatistics Shared Resource

The Biostatistics Shared Resource (BSR) is a centralized resource that provides state-of-the-art biostatistical
support for investigators conducting cancer research at Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC).
Advances in biotechnologies and computing hardware/software have greatly increased the need for
sophisticated statistical methodologies, and biostatistics is an essential component in ensuring high-quality
cancer research, particularly in clinical and translational research. BSR biostatisticians play important integrated
roles in each of the SCCC Research Programs. The formats of these productive collaborations include pre-
award project and clinical trial development as well as post-award, project-oriented statistical services. SCCC
research covers the full spectrum of the translational pipeline, ranging from basic science experiments,
biomarker studies, investigator-initiated clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents and procedures, to population-
based studies. The BSR faculty also offers workshops, office consultations, seminars, and courses on study
design, analysis methods, and software implementation to fellows, research staff, and faculty. The BSR is led
by Chul Ahn, PhD, a distinguished biostatistician with a national and international reputation for his statistical
designs and analyses of cancer research and cancer clinical trials. BSR biostatisticians are also key contributing
members of SCCC’s Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee (PRMC) and Data and Safety Monitoring
Committee (DSMC), providing valuable independent statistical input. The BSR currently consists of efforts from
five faculty biostatisticians and three analysts, providing all levels of biostatistics support. The services of the
BSR were utilized by 178 members across five SCCC research programs from 2014-2019 and provided key
data and insights to support the success of 68 new cancer-related extramurally funded grants, 96 cancer clinical
trials, and 267 peer-reviewed publications, including work published in top tier journals such as JAMA, Journal
of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Cancer, Nature Genetics, and
Nature. Goals for the next funding period include recruiting additional biostatisticians to strengthen expertise in
adaptive trial design.

Grant Number: 5P30CA142543-15
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: CHUL AHN