Recognizing that budget constraints can inhibit investigators from turning to statistical scientists for assistance, the Yale Center for Analytical Sciences (YCAS) is offering free office hours, weekly research and design clinics and analytic clinics to meet the needs of researchers at the schools of medical and public health.
“The time for biostatisticians and epidemiologist to start collaborating is before the study begins,” says Casey King, executive director of YCAS. “When investigators collaborate on the study design, results are likely to be more robust and meaningful.”
Established in 2010, YCAS is a center for collaborative science that was developed in partnership with Yale Center for Clinical Investigation and the Yale School of Public Health. It brings together academic strengths in biostatistics, epidemiology, health economics and health services research at Yale. Its collaborative teams provide expertise in the design, conduct and analysis of health and health care studies, methodological development and education and training.
The center has 15 full-time biostatisticians and programmers and a dozen affiliated faculty members from the schools of medicine and public health. In 2011, YCAS performed over 400 unique consultations, many of which lead to grants and publications.
“Our collaboration with YCAS has lead to several high impact papers and funding opportunities,” said Peter Rabinowitz, associate professor of occupational medicine. “They have proved invaluable and I would encourage investigators to make use of this wonderful resource.”
YCAS services are open to investigators, faculty, fellows, staff and students who may sign up for office hours with any of 14 faculty affiliates or attend weekly Research and Design clinics. The design clinic covers a variety of topics from design of clinical trials to simple sample size calculations. Information is available on the website: ycas.yale.edu including a list of affiliated faculty and staff, and a pull down menu of their available office hours and specific expertise.
For more information, contact Alicia Lakomski at alicia.lakomski@yale.edu