Core F: Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (Bios) Core (Core F) provides CFAR Members with access to a highly qualified team of faculty and staff (core members) who are expert key players in team-based science. The goals for populating and deploying this team are to respond to the traditional biostatistical and bioinformatic service needs of CFAR Members, while maintaining capacity for innovation in terms of developing and employing cutting edge methodology toward statistical design and analytic challenges that arise in modern clinical, basic, translational, and social and behavioral epidemiologic research. The Bios Core enhances the impact and rigor of HIV-related research conducted by CFAR Members through collaboration and consultation, as well as through training and mentorship activities that emphasize the career development of new investigators. An innovative Bios Core Liaison system, implemented in 2016, has matured over the current funding period to facilitate the linking of targeted Bios Core faculty members with all science Cores and Scientific Working Group members. The Core offers a complete suite of services that provide support for proposal development, study design, data analytic plans, case report form and database design, and the publication of scientific research. In the next project period, the Bios Core will continue to prioritize emerging HIV researchers through its collaborations with the Developmental Core's pilot grant programs and with the Clinical Research Core to support proposal development and effective use of registry-based data. At the same time, we will foster and strengthen long-term collaborations with established CFAR Members to promote innovative and impactful team science. The Bios Core will focus its activities on the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: Deliver high quality collaborative support to CFAR Members, with particular emphasis on supporting and enhancing the proposals of early-stage HIV investigators; Aim 2: Leverage Core members' specialized expertise in support of the Emory CFAR's overall mission, to develop long-term and self-sustaining scientific collaborations in transdisciplinary research; Aim 3: Enhance both inter- and intra-CFAR synergy through engagement activities designed to promote and disseminate innovative and impactful HIV-related research methods and practice; Aim 4: Promote the next generation of Bios faculty to Core leadership positions and engage talented trainees to ensure the Core's continued long-term success in enhancing CFAR Members' research through sound and cutting edge biostatistical and bioinformatics methodology.