Division of Translational Research & Applied Statistics

Director: Gina R. Petroni, Ph.D.

Division Members • Division Publications

Cancer Center Consultation Request Form
On-line form – Paper form

Overview

The Division of Translational Research and Applied Statistics (TRAppS) provides an analytical infrastructure for basic, clinical, and translational research, specifically in cancer. We are the academic home of the Biostatistics Shared Resource for the UVA Cancer Center.

Members use their expertise to help develop, foster and lead discovery and innovation for translational science across the University of Virginia.
The Division has statistical expertise in pre-clinical studies and in all phases of clinical research with a particular emphasis on methodology related to early stage clinical trials.

Early phase study design

We design innovative clinical trials by developing and implementing novel statistical methodology that will answer research questions being posed in contemporary early development trials. We are part of a national research effort to change the way early phase trials in oncology are done through the Center for Early Phase Trials (CEPT).

Preclinical experiments

Experimental designs and analysis
Analyses of tumor outgrowth studies
Biomarker discovery

Middle to late stage study design

Propose and implement appropriate study designs to meet the study objectives, including sample size determination and statistical analysis plans

Optimal single arm, fully or group sequential designs
Designs for bivariate outcomes
Randomized phase II
Randomized multi-arm comparative trials
- Group Sequential and Adaptive Designs
- Preference Option Randomized Designs
- Factorial Designs

Clinical trial implementation and monitoring

Randomization and adaptive assignment
Interim analysis
Continuous adverse event tracking
Data and safety monitoring board reports

Grant proposals

Develop analysis plans and experimental designs to meet study objectives
Write statistical considerations and design justifications for clinical and preclinical experiments

Data Analysis

Diagnostic & screening tests
Instrument development
Linear, nonlinear and multiple regression
Logistic, polytomous, and Poisson regression
Mixed models
Nonparametric estimation
Product-limit and competing risks estimation
Prognostic markers
Proportional hazards regression
Quality of Life measurements
Quantile regression
Repeated measures analysis
Resampling methods

Education

One to one mentoring in clinical and pre-clinical research
Short courses and invited lectures in graduate courses
Courses in the DPHS programs
Workshops and presentations at national meetings

Recent Division Highlights

Dr. Conaway and colleague’s paper “Minimizing Glucose Excursions (GEM) With Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial” has been selected as the Journal of the Endocrine Society Featured Article for the week of Oct 28.
Congratulations to Drs. Conaway & Horton, who are part of the team who received the 2020 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research: Team Science. The award was given to the team led by Drs. Tom Loughran & Mark Kester for their work on the recently funded P01 award from NIH “TARGETED SPHINGOLIPID METABOLISM FOR TREATMENT OF AML.”
Dr. Wages’ NIH/NCI R01 application entitled “Dose-finding designs for late-onset toxicities” scored in the 3rd percentile (October 2020 review).