The Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) unit of the Department of Preventive Medicine provides easily-accessible consultation and data analysis to help investigators produce scientifically rigorous, reproducible, and publishable research. The unit combines experts in epidemiology, biostatistics, biomedical informatics, community engagement and molecular informatics. We aim to efficiently and effectively connect investigators to practical analytical & technical resources. We encourage offer a range of user-friendly educational opportunities for individuals of all skill levels. The BERD unit also promotes innovations in tools and methods that address barriers to clinical and translational research.
- Sign-up today for free one-on-one advice
- Available in-person and online
- Available as consultants and collaborators
- Please see here for details on individual members
BERD Clinic – Easily-Accessible Consultations
With advance registration, UTHSC faculty and residents can meet with specialists for biostatistics, epidemiology, and research design consultations. These consultations are limited in scope and intended to help researchers understand the underlying statistical aspects of their research design so they can adequately plan projects (e.g. study design, analytic approaches, simple power analyses, see below). For investigators looking for a collaborator, or consulting services, an initial meeting through the BERD Clinic is required to connect you to those services.
See an example BERD Clinic project workflow and review common questions for first time meetings.
Sign up for a Virtual BERD ClinicClinics with a Biostatistician or Epidemiologist
Personalized Advice On
Statistical Analysis Design
- Formulating a statistical analysis plan
- Appropriate selection of statistical tests
- Interpretation of statistical results
- Advice on display of data and results
- Responding to reviewers
Study Design
- Choice of study population
- Sample size and power calculations
- Randomization planning
Biomedical Informatics Planning
- Setting up your dataset for analysis
- data management using REDCap/Unity
- Data safety and HIPAA
- Project management
- Cohort identification
Specialized Advice
- Molecular Bioinformatics
- Health Services Research
- Population Health
BERD Consulting
Consultants from the Department of Preventive Medicine
In addition to the free advice available the BERD Clinic, the BERD Unit connects investigators with consulting services from the Department of Preventive Medicine available on a fee basis for both UTHSC & Non-UTHSC clients. After an initial free consultation (provided through the BERD Clinic), investigators will be provided with an estimate outlining the project’s scope, timeline, and projected cost.
Fees
For UTHSC investigators, statistical analyses performed by a staff statistician is billed at a rate of $81/hour. Analyses conducted by a faculty member is at the rate of $136/hour. Funds have been set aside to cover the analysis for residents and some departments. External clients and non-Not-For-Profit clients are billed at a 50% higher rate.
Analysis
Our PhD and MS level biostatisticians are highly trained in a range of statistical and analytic methods, including:
- Longitudinal data analysis
- ANOVA, linear and logistic regression
- Bayesian data analyses
- Sample size and power estimation
- Statistical genomics
- Survival analyses
- Meta-analysis
- Principal component and factor analysis
- Path modeling
- Structural equation modeling
- Cluster analysis
- Complex survey data analysis
- Statistical simulations and graphics
- Profile analysis
- Gene expression data analysis
- Mixed effects models
- Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE)
- Propensity Score Matching (PSM)
- Evaluation of medical tests for classification and prediction
- Estimation of median lethal doses (LD50)/quantal dose-response curves
Quick BERD Stats for 2023
752
CLINIC SERVICE HOURS
1,276
CONSULTING HOURS CONNECTED
152
CLIENTS SERVED
72
PROJECTS STARTED
Online Resources
Read curated articles from our members on topics ranging from statistical methods to programming languages including Julia, R, SAS and more.
Latest Articles:
- First Annual Survey on Management Software used in Statistical Consulting
- Seminar Slides | Enhancing Statistical Methods in Grants and Papers | Dr. Saunak Sen
- Seminar Slides | The Perfect Doctor | Dr. Fridtjof Thomas
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please email berd@uthsc.edu.