A final reminder of tonight's meeting: THE CAMBRIDGE STATISTICS DISCUSSION GROUP Thursday 3rd May 2007 7:15 for 7:45 Hopkinson Room, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Pembroke Street, Cambridge Statistical Methods in Psoriatic Arthritis Brian Tom MRC Biostatistics, Cambridge Abstract: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis and usually seronegative for rheumatoid factor. Prior to the mid 1980s, it was considered a benign disease, with short-lived synovitis that did not lead to residual damage in most patients. It is now known to be a much more serious disease, with many PsA patients developing clinical deformities and damage, and experiencing disease progression over time, which may impact on their quality of life. In this talk, I'll describe some of the recent work that I've been involved in with this disease. In particular, I'll concentrate on the physical functioning aspect of the disease as measured through the administration of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), although some mention of the epidemiological and statistical work on mortality will be presented as well. Some of the statistical methods/models used in these projects were multi-state Markov models, two-part generalized linear mixed models, poisson regression and "rolling average" standardized mortality ratios (SMR). Speaker: Brian Tom is a biostatistician working at the Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit (MRC BSU) in Cambridge. He read for his PhD at the Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr Pat Altham. After completing his PhD in September 1997, he took up an academic statistical consulting position in the then newly formed Centre for Applied Medical Statistics (CAMS) within the University of Cambridge's Department of Public Health and Primary Care (at the time known as the Department of Community Medicine). He spent three years at CAMS before making a move to the Epidemiology for Policy Group in the same department to work as a project statistician on Department of Health funded projects into mental health, and on projects to do with health care improvement in chronic diseases. His next job move in December 2001 was to the MRC BSU as a research statistician, where he is at present. He has worked on a number of research areas during his career, ranging from epidemiology to statistical bioinformatics, and also lectures on the MPhil in Statistical Science and has, in the past, lectured on and been an examiner for the MPhil in Epidemiology in the University. Directions: Directions: Enter the New Museums site through the arch from Pembroke Street. Turn to the left in front of the building with the brown iron staircase and pass through the passage way by the tree. Enter the lobby which is straight in front of you and find the back entrance to the Computer Service on the left. When inside follow the signs to the Hopkinson Room. It is not possible to park on the New Museums site in the evening. The back entrance to the Computer Service will be locked at 7:45. Arrivals after 7:45 can gain admittance by contacting the secretary on 07761769436. Provisional Next Meeting: 9th October - Matt Whiley (Amgen). 28th November - David Edwards (Cambs & Peterborough Public Health Network). Supper: Some members eat regularly in the University Centre before each meeting at 6pm. Feel free to join them. Subscriptions: of 1 pound are now due for attending the 2006-2007 session. Secretary: Peter Watson, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF;telephone 01223 355294 Extension 801; E-mail [log in to unmask]