Biostatistics Core

Mimi Kim, ScDThe overall goal of the Einstein-Montefiore CFAR Biostatistical Core is to provide CFAR investigators with a robust, innovative, comprehensive, and efficient system for statistical support that will contribute significantly to the quest for a greater scientific understanding of HIV infection and AIDS, and ultimately accelerate
development of improved prevention,
detection, and treatment strategies.

Core Mission

• Provide statistical and epidemiologic support for all phases of HIV/AIDS research studies
• Provide support for new HIV/AIDS-related research initiatives and the development of protocols and applications for regulatory approval and peer-reviewed funding
• Identify new problems requiring the development of novel statistical methods
• Provide training and mentoring in research methodology

Core Facilities

• Advanced hardware and software for high quality statistical support and computationally
• intensive methodologic research
• Statistical software packages: SAS, S-Plus, R, Stata, SPSS, StatXact, NCSS/PASS
• Microarray data analysis software including BRB-Array Tools, Bioconductor, GeneTraffic, and Pathway Assist   

Core Services

• Statistical expertise in the design of many different types of biomedical studies.
• Evaluating the reliability and validity of new technologies   
• Statistical support for the identification of appropriate graphical and statistical approaches for visualizing, summarizing and analyzing clinical and translational data.

Core Training Programs

• Biostatistics and Study Design: Identifying and Avoiding Common Errors
• Statistical methods in comparative effectiveness research
• Meta-analysis
• Current approaches for adjusting for confounding in observational studies
• Microarray data pre-processing and normalization, methylation analysis, DNA sequence analysis.
• Clinical trial design and protocol development
• Sample size determination and power calculations
• Statistical software training in use of SPSS, SAS, and other commonly used software programs
• Genomic and genetic research: Study design considerations

Core Training Programs

• Consulting without appointments is available every Tuesday from 3-5pm in Belfer 1006E at the East Campus-where CFAR investigators can drop by and receive advice about their projects from statisticians.
• To access Core services please contact Dr. Mimi Kim or submit an online request using the link below  

Recent Core Publications

Gandhi NR, Andrews JA, Brust J, Montreuil R, Weissman D, Heo M, Moll AP, Friedland G, Shah NS. Risk factors for mortality among multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in a high HIV-prevalence setting.  International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2012;16:90-97. PMCID:PMC3302205

Berg KM, Litwin A, Li X, Heo M, Arnsten JH. Directly observed therapy improves adherence and viral load in drug users attending methadone maintenance clinics: a randomized controlled trial. Drug & Alcohol Dependence. 2011;113:192-9. PMCID:PMC3003759

Brust JCM, Litwin AH, Berg KM, Li X, Heo M, Arnsten JH. Direct observation of antiretroviral therapy in substance abusers receiving methadone maintenance therapy does not cause increased drug resistance. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. 2011;27:535-541. PMCID:PMC3083727 

Berg KM, Litwin A, Li X, Heo M, Arnsten J.  Lack of sustained improvement in adherence or viral load following a directly observed antiretroviral therapy intervention.. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011;53:936-43. PMCID:PMC3189166