Inaugural Annual Conference: Challenges and Opportunities for Applied Statisticians

Speakers included
Professor Deborah Ashby, Imperial College London
Dr James Wason, University of Cambridge
Professor Andy Vail, University of Manchester

Event Description

The NIHR Statistics Group aims to bring together statisticians, clinicians and scientists to develop and promote best methodological practice in healthcare research.
This meeting aims to:

• Give an update and overview of the NIHR Statistics Group’s current achievements
• Involve new members in the formation of future activities and priorities.
• Promote collaboration between applied statisticians, clinicians and scientists
• Inform and discuss the challenges/opportunities for statisticians within NIHR funding streams
• Discuss how NIHR Statisticians link with MRC Methodology Hubs
• Provide networking opportunities to share and promote best practice

Who can attend?

Statisticians who are funded either directly or indirectly by the NIHR. This includes researchers/trainees partly- or fully-funded by an NIHR grant, those involved in an NIHR infrastructure (eg RDS, CTU, BRC, CLAHRC, DEC). Non-statisticians who are interested in statistics are welcome to attend.
We anticipate that new working groups will emerge from some of the breakout groups. Participants (registering before 12th May) can suggest additional discussion group topics.

Programme

Thursday 22nd June
2.00 Welcome and background to NIHR Statistics Group
2.30 Professor Deborah Ashby, Imperial College London – The challenges and opportunities for statisticians working within NIHR funded research
3.30 Break
3.45 Break out discussion groups (topics may change to meet interests of participants)
Challenges in the design and analysis of:

• Routinely collected data (A.Streeter’s presentation)
• Survey Data
• Studies involving biomarkers
• Personalised Medicine
• Development of diagnostic prognostic tests

4.55 Break
5.10 Feedback from the discussion groups
7.00 Barbecue at Halifax Hall

Friday 23rd June
9.00 Dr James Wason, University of Cambridge MRC Biostatistics Unit: MRC Hubs – how can the NIHR Statistics Group and MRC Trial Methodology Hubs work together? An overview of the structure of the MRC Hubs, sections and dissemination activities.

9.30 Mike Bradburn, Clinical Trials Research Unit, ScHARR, University of Sheffield: The UKCRC Statistics Operational Group – An overview of activities and opportunities for joint initiatives.

10.00 NIHR Statistics Group Research Sections: progress and future opportunities

• Early Phase Clinical Trials Section: Dr Simon Bond, University of Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit
• Laboratory Studies: Dr Dawn Teare, University of Sheffield
• Imaging Section: Dr Susan Mallett, University of Birmingham
• Ophthalmology Section: Dr Catey Bunce, Kings College London

11.00 Break
11.30 Break out discussion groups
Topics/themes for discussion

• Opportunities for statisticians to be PI (e.g. methodological grants)
• Funding models to support statistical involvement in grant development
• Improving statistical literacy among non-statisticians
• Ways to communicate/promote best practice
• Career development for applied statisticians

Participants can register their interest for specific working groups in advance of the meeting and be allocated a 5 minute slot to present on the topic if they wish to do so.
12.30 buffet lunch
13.30 Professor Andy Vail, University of Manchester: A career on the front-line – academic or support staff?
14.30 Feedback from breakout groups
15.30 Summary and identification of research networks to take forward
16.00 End of meeting