PhD in Biostatistics at University of Birmingham, in prognosis and meta-analysis

Improving the standards and analysis of prognosis research

Lead Supervisor: Dr Richard Riley, Reader in Biostatistics

Institute: University of Birmingham, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Medical & Dental Sciences

Project duration: 3 years

Funded by: Medical Research Council Partnership Grant entitled: ‘Prognosis Research: A Strategic Initiative in Translational Pathways (PROGRESS)’

Applications are invited to work with Dr Richard Riley and colleagues on an exciting 3-year PhD studentship within the Biostatistics research group, based within the School of Health and Population Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

In clinical medicine, the term prognosis refers to the risk of future health outcomes in people with a given disease or health condition.  Prognosis research therefore aims to summarise, explain and predict future clinical outcomes (e.g. death, disease recurrence) in patients with a particular disease or health condition. The study of prognosis has never been more important, as globally more people are living with one or more diseases or health-impairing conditions than at any previous time.

Findings from prognosis research are fundamental to clinical practice: they help define disease at diagnosis, aid patient counselling, quantify the benefit of a new treatment, identify targets for new treatments, and allow treatment decisions to be tailored to the individual patient. However, there is unfortunately an increasing body of evidence has shown that prognosis research studies are generally not meeting the standards expected of medical research. In particular, study protocols and research objectives are often not documented, statistical analyses and reporting standards are often sub-standard, and there is an endemic problem of publication bias. The PROGRESS initiative aims to help address these problems, and this PhD project will play an important role toward this objective by conducting empirical evaluations and developing statistical methodology.

Alongside their PhD, the student will be encouraged to attend internal and external training courses; write and submit both applied and methodological journal articles; and attend and present at national and international conferences. The student will be linked to, and supported by, about 40 other statisticians in the Biostatistics group, the Clinical Trials Units, the MRC Hub for Trials Methodology Research, and the School of Mathematics.

Project Objectives

Though the project can be tailored to the student’s expertise and interests, the PROGRESS group are particularly keen for the student to consider some of the following objectives:
1.            To empirically examine the threat of publication bias in meta-analyses of prognosis research studies across different diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease

2.            To develop statistical methods and practical recommendations for investigating and reducing publication bias in prognosis research

3.            To evaluate the current use of propensity score methods in prognosis research across disease areas, and develop methodology accordingly

4.            To review and develop sample size calculations for different types of prognosis research question

5.            To develop methods for individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of prognosis studies

Person Specification

We’re looking for a highly motivated person with a passion for statistics research who holds, or realistically expects to obtain, at least an Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a relevant subject. Ideally the candidate will have an MSc in (Medical) Statistics and/or experience of undertaking or analysing a prognosis research study.  

This position is fully funded for university fees and includes a stipend, expected to be about £16,000 per year (for an October 2012 start)

How to apply

Enquiries or applications including a CV, names and addresses of two referees and a covering letter should be sent to, Dr Richard Riley, School of Health and Population Sciences, Public Health Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT or email [log in to unmask]

The closing date is Friday 13th July 2012