Colorado School of Public Health News and Stories

The Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA) prides itself on being at the front lines of innovation and inclusivity. In addition to advancements in statistical analysis, design, and data science, CIDA has also taken measures to create a more diverse presence on the campus. With the formation of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee in 2020, one of the committee’s objectives was to reach out to students outside of the biostatistics programs and create opportunities for them to learn and work with data.

Colorado School of Public Health | November 03, 2021

Every data set has a unique story to tell, a diagnosis to uncover and an answer that helps you determine the next steps in your research. While researchers may be the expert in the science, biostatisticians and data scientists are the experts in the quantitative analyses behind the science. 

Colorado School of Public Health | July 08, 2020

When the sky is the limit, our very own Dr. Nichole Carlson continuously reaches beyond. Through drive and passion, Dr. Carlson is demonstrating what it means to be a leader in her Center, Department and the Universitywide system.

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

Growing a collaboration is more than two people sitting at a table and discussing a project. It is a team of individuals who not only believe in the science they are researching, but they believe in the contributions that each expert at the table brings to the research. These collaborations focus on uniting subject area experts and producing quality research that not only impacts science, but drives change in our communities.

CIDA is fortunate to have nearly 20 collaborations across the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. One of which is with the Division of Endocrinology. The Endocrinology partnership began as a way to help new researchers write grant proposals to secure funding for future research and has expanded to supporting analyses, consultations, and manuscript writing. During all phases of research, our team is by the side of the Principal Investigator talking through the science, shining light on limitations and guiding the team to a testable hypothesis, and highlighting the best practices in data collecting for success.

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

For highly productive research teams a time develops when you need to add depth to your team to ensure your research continues to evolve and move forward. For the Mourani Lab, the next step in advancement was to hire a data manager as a key individual to support research that the team is currently completing and planning.

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

The University of Colorado Anschutz and its departments conduct cutting-edge research that often requires a statistical understanding and/or support. The Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA) provides consulting services and builds collaborative partnerships with many of the departments and institutions within the university. CIDA’s consulting services include anything from data management, pre-processing the data, traditional data analysis, grant support such as power analyses and writing statistical analysis plans, to basic consulting services such as helping students in groups with statistical and/or coding questions.

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

The Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA) is housed within the Biostatistics and Informatics department at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, but the center extends its services beyond the campus. CIDA works with a variety of investigators who work in areas such as industry, government, medicine, and research. “Our expertise includes standard analysis as well as the innovative development of statistical analyses and software creation,” says Bryan McNair, MS, PStat®, of the Center for Innovative Design and Analysis. 

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

For the team of biostatisticians who call the Center of Innovative Design and Analysis home, medical research is the driving force behind the work they partner on. Based on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, our statisticians get involved in cutting edge research and clinical trials that matter not only to them, but to our families and communities.

For the past 2 ½ years, Diana Abbott, PhD, and Andy Hammes, MS, have been collaborative biostatisticians with the Division of Hematology. A primary focus of their projects has focused on the effect of treatment on leukemic stem cells. The combination of Dr. Jordan’s lab and Dr. Dan Pollyea’s clinical work set the foundation for future research funded by the SCOR (Specialized Center of Research) grant, a $5M award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This research—the crux of Dr. Jordan’s proposal, which was awarded in October of 2018, could change the way clinicians think about acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Dr. Abbott says,

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

Think you can code?

The CIDA Hackathon is an opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to come together to develop innovative tools and analyses that will help drive research on campus. Throughout the event, our goal is to open the doors to resources that allow participants to further develop their programming skills, while building a community of researchers, mentors, and fellow programmers.

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

CIDA's Biostatisticians on the Cutting Edge

The Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA) offers statistical consulting to external and internal investigators. In addition to providing statistical support to these project, CIDA’s biostatisticians conduct their own innovative design and research. 

Colorado School of Public Health | July 07, 2020

Wearing a mask or face covering in the US has become about more than just slowing the spread of COVID-19 — some experts say it's a political statement, signalling another layer in the deep divisions within America.

ABC News | June 30, 2020

The Department of Biostatistics and Informatics partners with the Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA) and its faculty to employ student apprentices in the biostatistics Master’s and Doctoral programs on campus as Research Assistants. These Research Assistant positions are highly sought after for the educational and practical benefits they provide students. “You learn formally in a classroom, but in the real world the data are messy and [the apprenticeship] provides valuable, hands-on, work experience with real data that you don’t get in the classroom,” explains Luke Patten, MS, Research Instructor and former Research Assistant, Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA).

Colorado School of Public Health | June 30, 2020

CIDA offers a One Hour Consultation Program, free of charge, to anyone on campus who might benefit from a one hour consultation with a biostatistician. “The One Hour Consultation Program offers a short, biostatistics consultation to individuals on campus who may not have statistical expertise, or have access to an individual with that expertise,” explains one of CIDA’s One Hour Consultation  Biostatisticians, Andrew Hammes, MS, Research Instructor, Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA). “With the growing importance of rigorous statistical analysis in many situations across the university, [it is useful to have] the opportunity to get feedback and help from a biostatistician who may have experience with projects and analysis similar to what [you] are working on.”  

“CIDA's biostatistician is able to help talk through the project including structuring the project, data collection and issues, analysis, and interpretation,” Hammes explains.

While no in-depth analysis of a specific data set can take place during the One Hour Consultation Program, the biostatisticians “can help with talking through how to interpret analysis, or talk through what analysis should be done.” If an investigator finds after the consultation that they would like more statistical assistance with analyzing their data, they can use their consultation as a starting point for building a scope of work with the center. 

To get as much guidance and support as possible during the consultation, the PI should be prepared to give a brief elevator pitch that highlights the science behind the project…[and] the set goals [whether that is a publication, an internal analysis, or something else]” according to Hammes. 

Hammes recommends that, in addition to the elevator pitch, all attendees come to the One Hour Consultation Program prepared with “a hypothesis, what resources they have available, the current stage of the project, where the data comes from, if any funds are available in case scope goes to a full project, what analytical software you have available, and potential sample sizes.” Depending on the stage of the project, some of this information might not be available to bring with to the consultation. In that instance, these might be questions worth asking the biostatistician for guidance on to help gather the important elements prior to starting your project. 

Colorado School of Public Health | June 30, 2020

Grants are a fundamental part of funding important research studies. Many grants are highly competitive and research has proven that partnering with a statistician at the start of, and during, the grant writing process can improve the chances of a grant proposal being accepted.

Colorado School of Public Health | June 30, 2020

When you walk across the campus, you are reminded that learning never stops. Professional development and career growth are part of our culture and the underlying current that allows individuals to be lifelong learners. Not only can these opportunities teach you new skills, but they ensure that you will remain at the forefront in your field. 

The CCTSI Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) program partners with the Center for Innovative Design and Analysis (CIDA) to offer several short courses, seminars and a hackathon to the Anschutz Medical Campus as well as to individuals from the greater front range. These opportunities are designed to provide a high-level overview of topics in biostatistics from fundamentals of statistical literacy, to study design, to big data and data science, there is an option that aligns with your interests and needs as a professional.

Short courses are a great opportunity for anyone on campus who is not a professionally trained biostatistician to gain knowledge in the different content areas. We offer a wide-variety of options and we are always open to feedback about topics that the campus is interested in.

Colorado School of Public Health | June 30, 2020

Every year the Biostatistics and Informatics Department takes a moment to reflect on the outstanding work our students completed over the past academic year. Their accomplishments and successes are highlighted by the faculty who lead and mentor each and every student on their quest to academic excellence. This excellence prepares our students not only for a future in academics, but also allows them to be career ready for when they enter the work force through industry.

Colorado School of Public Health | June 30, 2019

For many men and women on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, each day is a search. Their quarry is the signals in data: information necessary to answer an endless array of questions about the complex world of public health and medicine.

Colorado School of Public Health | February 16, 2019