MRC Biostatistics HTMR Launch Event
Research and clinical trials in Cambridge received a welcome boost as the MRC Biostatistics Unit officially launched their new Hub in Trials Methodology Research. The launch event, incorporating a half day symposium, was held on the 29 April. The event was attended by many local clinical, academic and research based individuals who came along to hear how this Hub could benefit their research.
The MRC Biostatistics Hub, part of the MRC HTMR Network, aims to establish strong collaborations with relevant research groups in Cambridge and the local region that undertake trials. These partnerships will benefit from having access to the latest statistical designs and analysis techniques, including flexible designs which require fewer patients on average. An additional advantage is the reassurance that if non-standard problems arise then a team of statisticians are on hand to solve the issues.
From left to right- Professor Tim Eisen (Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre), Professor Duncan Jodrell (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute), Professor Simon Thompson (Director of the MRC Biostatistics Unit), Dr Adrian Mander (Head of the MRC Biostatistics Unit HTMR), Professor David Spiegelhalter (MRC Biostatistics Unit and University of Cambridge) and Dr James Wason (MRC Biostatistics Unit HTMR)
Dr Adrian Mander, Head of the newly launched Hub explained
“The MRC Biostatistics Hub aims to promote effective linking of methodology and application to ensure that our trials methodology research is focused on important problems in applied studies.This will ensure that our collaborations in new and ongoing trials have access to the best possible methodological support”
Attendees to the launch event were entertained by a series of talks detailing how the Hub aims to function and some examples of the work and collaborations set up so far before a keynote speech from Professor David Spiegelhalter discussed the progress in Bayesian methods in clinical trials, a long time research interest of his.
Details of the programme and links to talks (where available) are given below:
Event Programme
Short Talk 1: Dr Adrian Mander, MRC BSU HTMR
“Introduction to the MRC Biostatistics Hub in Trials Methodology Research and the HTMR Network”
Short Talk 2: Professor Tim Eisen, Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre
“A groundswell of support for novel clinical trials - TIDAL1”
Short Talk 3: Professor Duncan Jodrell, CRUK Cambridge Research Institute
“Improving Early Phase Trial Design for Cancer Therapeutics”
Short Talk 4: Dr James Wason, MRC BSU HTMR
“Reducing the average number of patients needed in a phase II trial through novel designs”
Keynote Talk: Professor David Spiegelhalter, MRC BSU and Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk
“Bayesian methods in clinical trials: has there been any progress?”