Medical Research Council   ----   Cancer Trials Office

PhD Studentship in Medical Statistics -
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Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life Data
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For further details:	Dr Peter Fayers or Dr Max Parmar, MRC Cancer
Trials Office, 5 Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 2BW
(queries during July should be sent to Max Parmar)

 Tel:	01223 311110
 Fax:	01223 311844

Candidates are sought for a three year studentship funded by the
MRC, starting October 1998.

The project concerns the analysis of quality of life data.

The project
===========

Within clinical trials, quality of life (QoL) is usually reported by
each patient at repeated time-points before, during and after therapy.
 To date, however, most analyses of clinical trial data employ
relatively simple models, and frequently ignore the longitudinal or
repeated-measurement aspect of QoL assessments.  This is inefficient
use of the data, and there can be serious loss of power in detecting
important QoL changes because QoL has a large day-to-day variation.

Models such as multilevel models, generalised linear models (GLM) or
generalised estimating equations (GEE) provide support for
within-group correlation structures and random effects, enabling
longitudinal models to be fitted.  Few publications have applied such
methods to QoL data. The project will investigate the best strategy
for analysing QoL data, placing particular emphasis upon using
statistical modelling in a way that leads to clinically useful
interpretation.

Research environment
====================

The student will work in the MRC Cancer Trials Office (CTO). The
office comprises approximately 40 members of staff, including 8
statisticians, and has been designing, conducting and analysing
national and international cancer trials for 25 years.  The CTO thus
has a strong practical and methodological base in clinical trials and
QoL research.  The office has excellent computing facilities and a PC
will be provided at the student's desk. Shared office accommodation
will also be provided. The student will interact with all members of
staff at the CTO and the office has good links with the MRC
Biostatistics Unit.

Eligibility and conditions
==========================

Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second
class honours degree in Statistics, or with a substantial component of
statistics, or an MSc in Statistics. It is an MRC eligibility
requirement that students be UK residents. Residents of other EU
countries are also eligible, but on a fees-only basis.  This means
that the MRC would pay tuition fees to the University, but would not
award a stipend. In 1998, stipends for UK students start at stlg7,070. In
certain cases the MRC will provide additional allowances and expenses.
 Issues of eligibility and payments will be explored further with
suitable applicants.

Interviews
==========

Interviews for the studentship will be held in August and it is hoped
that a student will be selected by the end of August 1998. N.B. The
previously advertised date (July) has been extended.

Applications
============

Applications with CVs, details of relevant experience and education,
and names and addresses of two referees should be made as soon as
possible to Dr P Fayers at the address shown at the top of the page.


------------------------
Peter Fayers
MRC Cancer Trials Office
5 Shaftesbury Road
Cambridge CB2 2BW, U.K.
Email:  [log in to unmask]
Tel:  +44 1223 311110 ext 220
Fax:  +44 1223 311844


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