Clinical Trials Statistical and Data Management Center

The Clinical Trials Statistical and Data Management Center (CTSDMC) was founded in 1989, and currently employs 50 full-time staff. The Center is directed by Dr. Christopher Coffey, with Dr. Emine Bayman serving as the Deputy Director. The mission of the CTSDMC is to facilitate innovative multicenter clinical trials by providing high quality infrastructure support. The CTSDMC has assisted in the development and implementation of over 40 multicenter clinical trials and large epidemiological studies and has worked with over 100 partners world-wide. Depending on the project, CTSDMC can serve as the Data Coordinating Center, Clinical Coordinating Center and/or Statistics Core. While the CTSDMC does not necessarily focus on one disease area, they have developed expertise in neuroscience and pain research through funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. In each of their projects, the CTSDMC has provided leadership in study design, data collection, data management, project management, clinical site monitoring, quality management, safety monitoring, statistical design and analysis, and data dissemination and sharing. A description of CTSDMC staff, services and projects may be viewed on the Center’s website.

Statistical/Analytics Core of the Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy

The Center for Public Health Statistics (CPHS) was established in March 1999 under the strategic plan for the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Administratively designated as a collegiate center, the CPHS functioned collaboratively with collegiate departments and centers, university groups, and outside entities in fulfillment of its mission until it merged with the IPHPRP in 2023. The mission of the core is to (1) collect, analyze, and disseminate public health data in relation to the research, teaching, and service missions of the College of Public Health, (2) develop collaborative relationships in the area of public health statistics, and (3) represent the College of Public Health to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) with respect to issues involving public health data.

The statistical/analytics core takes the lead for managing the UI/Wellmark Data Repository. The UI/Wellmark Data Repository is a longitudinal database of administrative health insurance claim records. They work collaboratively with the Iowa Health and Human Services across the state on screening programs for cardiovascular disease and breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer targeted to low-income Iowans. They have created interactive cancer risk maps for the Iowa Cancer Registry. In addition, they are actively engaged in research projects in several areas of public health, providing biostatistical expertise and data analysis support.

Biostatistics Consulting Center

The Biostatistics Consulting Center (BCC) was originally established to provide biostatistical consulting to the Carver College of Medicine. The Center currently provides expert statistical consulting and data management services to researchers across the health sciences campus. The BCC is directed by Dr. M. Bridget Zimmerman.

Faculty and student consultants from the BCC work with investigators during all phases of research: proposal development, study design, data form or questionnaire development, data entry, data management, statistical analysis, and report preparation. Collaborations range from brief consultations to long-term interdisciplinary research endeavors.

Biostatistics Core, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Biostatistics Core has been a shared resource of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC) since the Center received NCI designation in 2000.  The Core is directed by Dr. Brian Smith and additionally supported by two other Department of Biostatistics faculty, two staff biostatisticians, and graduate research assistants.  Core members are actively engaged in the research and educational mission of the HCCC through study design and development; protocol review and study monitoring; research data management; statistical analysis and programming; analysis reporting and publication; methodological development; and mentoring, formal training, and professional development.  The Core collaborates with HCCC members on a wide range of research including basic science, preclinical, clinical trial, imaging, and population science studies.  Examples of their collaborations are biostatistical leadership for two NCI-funded Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Lymphoma and Neuroendocrine Tumors as well as an NCI Quantitative Imaging Network multi-institutional grant program.

Biostatistics Core Alliance 

The Biostatistics Core Alliance is an association of biostatistical groups at The University of Iowa working together to coordinate collaborative statistical support for biomedical research.  Alliance members are highly skilled biostatisticians with expertise in data management; study design; statistical analysis of clinical, epidemiological, laboratory, and public health data; and grant and manuscript preparation. The Alliance provides a common point of access to biostatistical support for members of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, and other biomedical programs at the University of Iowa.  An online form is provided for support requests and is used by the Alliance to match the expertise of our members to project needs.