The Medical Research Council (MRC) Biostatistics Unit (BSU) at the University of Cambridge is one of the largest groups of biostatisticians in Europe, and a major centre for research, training and knowledge transfer in biostatistics. Our overall mission is to promote the development and application of innovative statistical methods for the improvement of public health.
Founded in 1913, we are internationally renowned for the strength of our research, and successful strategy of maintaining a unique balance between statistical innovation, dissemination and impact We are particularly recognised for our expertise in applying Bayesian inference to biomedical and public health issues.
We have approximately 60 research staff and 35 PhD students all working on different areas of cutting-edge biostatistics, including modelling of infectious diseases such as HIV and Flu, designing innovative clinical trials, improving prognosis of illnesses such as Arthritis and Cardiovascular Disease, analysing diseases traits, and creating new statistical models.
Our current research portfolio is organised into five themes that span the scientific research spectrum from basic science to population health and respond to current scientific needs in biomedicine. Each theme is anchored in important scientific questions arising from our key stakeholders, questions which both motivate methodological developments and ensure their impact.
We work with leading trial centres and epidemiology groups, and public health bodies such as the UK Health Security Agency. We also have developing links with major programmes in stratified medicine and in big data analytics such as Health Data Research UK and the Alan Turing Institute.