Research areas and activities
Research Areas and Activities
The focus of BMU members as it relates to methodological research, capacity enhancement and innovative collaboration can be broadly classified into three areas:
- Clinical trials and systematic reviews (CTSR),
- Statistical genetics and genomics (SGG);and
- Health services research (HSR).
Biomedical research in the 21st century has broken down the traditional isolation of basic molecular research from clinical and population research. Methodologies that are designed to be used in one area (e.g., clinical research) are now being adapted to deal with the new and emerging data types in molecular research and population level epidemiological research. Our group takes the view that biomedical research is a continuum that spans the three major levels of investigation (molecular, clinical and population) and the overlaps between them. Our research and capacity enhancement activities concentrate on integrative research as well as transferring of new knowledge.
Clinical Trials and Systematic reviews (CTSR)
We work on a wide range of methodological issues related to clinical trials in general, and systematic reviews/meta-analysis in particular. We evaluate performance of current methodologies, assess relevance to innovative collaborative projects, validate models, identify gaps and work towards new and improved methodologies. Data integration is increasingly in importantance in the health sciences. Our group is at the forefront of developing and evaluating methods for data integration whereby information at the molecular, clinical, and population level is being integrated to address complex scientific questions.
Statistical Genetics and Genomics (SGG)
Members of our group are actively involved in innovative, collaborative research, and development of statistical methodologies in genetics and genomics. We work closely with basic scientists in different research programs including Genetics & Genome Biology, Developmental & Stem Cell Biology and The Center for Applied Genomics (TCAG) at The Hospital for Sick Children and other similar institutions. We evaluate current methodologies, identify gaps and propose improvements. We also develop new methodologies for high through put data such as gene expression microarrays, DNA copy number variation and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). We are currently working on a CIHR funded project, Data integration in genetics and genomics, through which we are developing a conceptual framework as well as improved methodologies for integrating genetic, genomic, proteomic, clinical as well as environmental and other types of data for more precise statistical inference and interpretation.
Health Services Research (HSR)
Health services research is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation where a range of factors are explored to study optimal ways for improving access, quality, delivery, and management of health services and systems. Methodologies from a host of disciplines including, biostatistics, epidemiology and sociology, are used to organize, analyze and interpret data. BMU members have particular interest in multilevel models and spatial-temporal statistical methods, which are critical in the analysis of data in health services research.