Biostatistical Services Core

The Office of Biostatistical Services (OBS) Core provides state-of-the-art statistical design and data analysis services as well as education and training for clinical, laboratory, and outcomes researchers at Children's Research Institute.

Location and Hours

The OBS Core is located at Metropolitan Park West on the 5th floor. OBS staff are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Services

The OBS Core serves as the primary information processing and analysis core for Children's Research Institute research activities.

Specific aims include:

  • Provide state-of-the-art research design and data analysis for Children's Research Institute investigators
  • Educate research scientists about the availability and use of biostatistical support and methodology to enhance their research
  • Provide research scientists with hands-on training in data management practices, design and analysis procedures
  • Develop leading-edge analysis methods and software for application to research datasets

We achieve these aims by:

  • Offering clinical investigators access to biostatistical consultation during proposal development
  • Providing direct support for data analysis, interpretation and manuscript writing
  • Offering workshops and individualized, project-specific training in the use of statistical methods and software

Fee Structure

Children's Research Institute medical / scientific researcher

Includes faculty, fellows, residents, medical students, as well as non MD/PhD researchers such as RNs, social workers, PTs, nutritionists, etc.

Type of Activity Hourly Rates
  • Grant proposal development
  • Study design planning (regardless of whether grant is being submitted or not)
No direct charge to investigator. Request inclusion in grant application for funds to cover anticipated analysis work.
Study implementation services, such as:
  • Creation of randomization schemes
  • Database consulting
  • Data "cleaning" (i.e., screening data sets for errors, inconsistencies, missing items, and formatting problems)
  • Hands-on data analysis
  • Graphics creation
  • Direct contributions to manuscript/report writing
 $53/hour

Children's Hospital administrative units

For example, for projects geared towards hospital operations assessment rather than science research.

Type of Activity Hourly Rates
  • Design consultations
  • Data analysis and other study implementation services
 $53/hour

Children's Hospital and Children's Research Institute (as a whole institution)

Type of Activity Hourly Rates
Educational activities:
  • STATA training for researchers
  • Design/statistical methodology seminars and individual training sessions
  • Technical resource for scientific committee members, journal reviewers, medical education programs, etc. ("Space available" basis only.)
 None
Committee service:
  • Protocol review for IRB, Hem/Onc SRC, etc.
 None

Outside entities

For example, non-Children's Hospital, non-Children's Research Institute / UW Peds.

Type of Activity Hourly Rates
All types $106/hour

How to Request Services

The OBS Core supports research investigators, including faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students at Children's Hospital as well as non MD/PhD researchers such as RNs, social workers, PTs, nutritionists, and administrators.

To utilize the services of OBS, contact Kristy Seidel, Director, to discuss the scope of the specific services you are requesting.

Please review the Project Support and Cost Recovery Policy OBS-001 (PDF 137KB) for more details on the policy for services provided at no charge versus those that require payment.

After consultation with one of the biostatistical staff, you will need to complete the OBS Intake Form (DOC).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will the statistical consulting for my project cost?

For projects that involve billable consulting services (e.g. hands-on data analysis, database consulting, randomizations), you will be asked to fill out the Office of Biostatistical Services Intake Form (DOC).

You and the OBS consultant will jointly determine what the scope of work will be.

Before initiation of any billable work, the OBS consultant will provide you with a range estimate for the total cost.

If unforeseen problems arise during execution of the project, such as errors in the data set, or there is a change in the scope of work, the cost estimate may need to be revised.

Please see the current fee structure.

What information should I bring to my initial consulting appointment?

For study design consultations it is helpful to bring background materials such as a draft of your grant application, IRB application, or study protocol. Copies of key publications related to your topic can also be useful.

If you will be requesting a statistical power or sample size calculation for a randomized trial, your consultant will need information about the expected outcomes in the control group and the magnitude of effect that you would like the study to be able to detect.

Most commonly, the information needed is an estimate of the mean and standard deviation of the primary outcome measurement for each group. For studies that involve comparison of proportions, no standard deviation estimate is required.

Maximum recruitment potential is also a key factor in evaluating sample size options, so any information you have on the availability of eligible subjects at study sites, budgetary constraints or logistical limitations is also useful.

For projects that will involve hands-on data analysis by an OBS consultant, bringing copies of case report form templates, data coding keys, electronic file templates and/or the actual data files is a good idea.

Contact Us

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