Spring 2021 - STAT 854 G100

Biometrics: Methods in Biomedical Studies (4)

Class Number: 3348

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Tue, Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    STAT 450 or permission of the instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Principles, methods and applications of basic statistical approaches in biomedical studies are presented. Topics include introduction to epidemiology; design of cohort and case-control studies; experimental versus observational data, and cross-sectional versus longitudinal studies; issues of confounding, causation and missing data; design of clinical trials; data monitoring and interim analysis.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Outline:

  1. History of epidemiology, and commonly-used concepts and terminology in biomedical studies
  2. Measures of disease occurrence and association. 
  3. Design of medical studies: cohort and case-control studies; controlled clinical experiments. 
  4. Models and analysis in prospective and retrospective studies.  
  5. Clinical trial design principles: bias control, random error control, randomization, blocking, masking 
  6. Types of clinical trials: phases of trial, translational, dose-finding, cross-over, safety and efficacy, and comparative trials. 
  7. Study monitoring: sequential methods.
  8. Selected important topics in biostatistics: survival analysis, longitudinal analysis, missing data, causal inference, …

Mode of Teaching:
  • Lecture: Synchronous (Live)
  • Tutorial: N/A
  • Quizzes and Midterm: N/A
  • Final exam: N/A

Grading

  • Assignments 30%
  • Projects 50%
  • Final Presentation 20%

NOTES:

All grading is subject to change.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Access to high-speed internet, webcam.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Epidemiologic Methods: Studying the Occurrence of Illness, 2nd ed. Authors: Noel S. Weiss and Thomas D. Koepsell. Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780195314465

Clinical Trials: A Methodologic Perspective, Second Edition. Author: Steven Piantadosi. Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 9780471727811

Fundamentals of Clinical Trials, 5th ed. Authors: L.M. Friedman, C.D. Furberg, D. DeMets, D.M. Reboussin, C.B. Granger. Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9783319185385

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).