Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2023 - STAT 854 G100

Biometrics: Methods in Biomedical Studies (4)

Class Number: 5908

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Tu, Th 3:30 PM – 5:20 PM
    WMC 2268, 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

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

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 website 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