VCU Establishes First Biostatistics Consulting Laboratory

September 1, 2016 by Wright Center

The VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research (Wright CCTR) is proud to support the creation of the Biostatistics Consulting Laboratory (BCL) at VCU. The BCL offers assistance with study design, data analysis, and biostatistical education services free of charge to members of VCU and VCU Health System. It will complement the biostatistics services already offered by the Center by allowing Wright CCTR biostatisticians more flexibility to keep up with the ever-growing demand for their services.

The BCL is a recently launched student-led organization that is housed with the VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Biostatistics. It offers statistical assistance for clients across the university while simultaneously providing students with the ability to receive first-hand consulting experience, a career-critical skill.

“The communication of statistical results is extremely important, because even the best projects can fall through if the results are not conveyed in a meaningful manner,” said Adam Sima, Ph.D., biostatistician for the Wright CCTR’s Research Innovator and supervisor of the BCL. “Teaching the next generation of biostatisticians this valuable skill is important for both their job prospects as they graduate, but also for their professional development. We aim to not only produce statistical products that are requested by investigators, but to communicate these results as effectively as possible so the investigators can use the results to further the translational aspect of their research.”

The lab will be primarily run by five BCL assistants and two BCL associates: Brian DiPace, a 3rd year Ph.D. student and winner of the VCU Biopharmaceutical Applied Statistics Scholarship and the Karl E. Peace Biostatistics Award for Excellence and Scholarship; and Viviana Alejandra Rodriguez, 2nd year Ph.D. student and Fulbright Foreign Student Program scholar from Colombia’s Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

“I am looking forwarding to seeing how we conduct the BCL at VCU so I can eventually bring back the mechanisms and administrative policies to my institution in Colombia,” said Rodriguez.

In addition to research assistance, VCU faculty often receive requests for introductory lectures on biostatistics, a service the BCL will now be able to offer on its website.

“I think it’s important that the VCU community knows not only about the research aspect of the BCL, but also of the educational assistance we can provide,” said DiPace. “Graduates students can now offer lectures and seminars through the lab, something that hasn’t been offered in the past.”

To learn more about the BCL and request research or education assistance, visit www.biostatistics.vcu.edu/bcl.

Software used in the BCL’s effort is partially supported by CTSA award No. UL1TR000058 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.