Department of Biostatistics

Valen E. Johnson, Ph.D., Ad Interim Chair

Mission Statement

The Department of Biostatistics provides biostatistical collaboration, consultation and quantitative research resources to clinical, laboratory and prevention scientists engaged in the planning, conduct, analysis, quality assurance and interpretation of research studies.

Goals

To assign a biostatistician to every clinical and prevention protocol at MD Anderson ab initio
This biostatistician will be responsible for the design, interim monitoring, final analysis and report of results for the protocol in collaboration with the principal investigator and co-investigators
To develop biostatistical methods to improve the efficiency of current and future therapeutic, diagnostic, prevention and intervention studies
To develop new methodologies in biostatistics, including methods for survival analysis, Bayesian monitoring strategies for clinical trials, improvements for screening studies and better dose-finding strategies
To play a direct role in the planning and review of clinical protocols, including therapeutic, translational and prevention studies
To provide educational programs in biostatistics for research scientists and clinicians
To develop and participate in inter-institutional graduate academic programs in biostatistics

News and Events

Shete Named as ASA Fellow

Sanjay Shete, professor of biostatistics and chief of the Section Behavioral and Social Statistics, has been selected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association. He will be inducted at the Joint Statistical Meetings in July-August, 2012. Professor Shete joins eight other faculty members in our department who have received this honor: Donald A. Berry (1986), Barry W. Brown (1987), Valen E. Johnson (1999), Stuart O. Zimmerman (1999), Kim-Anh Do (2006), Yu Shen (2007), J. Jack Lee (2008), and Jeffrey S. Morris (2011).

Cantor to Receive Saenger Award

Scott Cantor, professor of biostatistics and faculty member of the Section of Health Services Research, has been named the recipient of the Eugene L. Saenger Award for Distinguished Service to the Society for Medical Decision Making. Dr. Cantor will receive the award at The 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making in October 2012.

Elting Received Texas Business Women's Award

Linda Elting, professor of biostatistics and chief of the Section of Health Services Research, has been recognized as the 2012 recipient of the Texas Business Women's Award.