An MMI / HRB CRF Galway Workshop in Biostatistics was held from 6-10 July 2009 in Aras Ui Chathaill, NUI Galway. The workshop was held as part of the MMI CSFP Structured Training and was opened up to a wider audience of researchers from the CRF as well as from other MMI partner institutions and industry. Running over five mornings, the workshop was limited to 56 attendees and attracted significant interest.

The aim of the workshop, which was run by Dr John Newell (Dept of Mathematics and HRB CRF, NUI Galway) together with Professor Tom Aitchison (formerly Department of Statistics, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK) was to provide participants with an overview of fundamental biostatistical methods, an understanding of the key concept of variability and a practical working knowledge of the statistical techniques they are likely to encounter in applied medical research.

Techniques covered included study design, analysis of sample problems (independent and dependent data) through interval estimation and hypothesis testing approaches, comparison of three or more samples (analysis of variance), regression problems, survival analysis, logistic regression and sample size calculations. Each session was designed in the format of a workshop and included lectures and computer based practical work.

Participants on the Biostatistics workshops were also eligible to attend additional lectures and workshops taking place each afternoon as part of the MMI CSFP Structured Training. Topics covered included Biostatistics, Biomaterials/Bioengineering, Paper review, Grant writing, Bibliometrics, Intellectual Property and Patents, Advanced Imaging, and a series of Techniques workshops (e.g. FACs, Real-time PCR, Microarray, Immunohistochemistry). They were also keynote presentations from Prof Matthew Griffin (NUI Galway) and Dr Christine Dingivan (of the clinical research organiation PPD, inc: pictured right)

For more information on the MMI CSFP please see here