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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Quantitative Data Sciences Core

Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Clinical Informatics

The mission of the Quantitative Data Sciences Core (QDSC) is to bolster the scientific research excellence at the Lurie Cancer Center (LCC) by providing state-of-the-art data sciences support to LCC members. Data sciences within QDSC include Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Clinical Informatics.

We provide an integrated approach that encompasses all three disciplines and leverages the multidisciplinary expertise of more than 20 faculty and staff to provide a seamless and coordinated approach to study design, grant development, data coordination, analysis, interpretation and publication of study findings.

Contact Us

Director

Masha Kocherginsky, PhDMasha Kocherginsky, PhD
Director, Quantitative Data Sciences Core (QDSC)
Professor
Departments of Preventive Medicine (Biostatistics) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (Gynecologic Oncology)

Associate Director

GurleyMichael Gurley
Technical Associate Director of Clinical Informatics
Administrative Director of Cancer Informatics Lurie Cancer Center

Associate Director

BlankElizabeth T. Bartom, PhD
Scientific Associate Director for Bioinformatics
Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Preventive Medicine (Biostatistics)

Associate Director

ZhaoLili Zhao, PhD
Associate Director For Biostatistics
Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine (Biostatistics)

Associate Director

BlankMatthew J. Schipma, PhD
Technical Associate Director for Bioinformatics
Research Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Assistant Director

BurdettKirsten Bell Burdett, MS
Assistant Director, Quantitative Data Sciences Core (QDSC)
Biostatistician, Department of Preventive Medicine (Biostatistics & Informatics)

Locations

680 N. Lake Shore Drive, 1400
Chicago, IL 60611
312-503-2288 or 312-908-1970

Website

Get In Touch: Project Description Form

Please fill out a brief QDSC Project Description and Appointment Request and a QDSC member will get in touch with you about collaborating.

Please get in touch with us as early as possible to ensure sufficient time for meaningful contribution from QDSC. Typically a request should be made:

  • At least 1-2 weeks prior to desired meeting time for brief 1-hour consultations 
  • At least 2-4 weeks for LOI or a brief clinical trial concept
  • At least 4-6 weeks for grant proposal development, and longer for P, U and other large grants

At least 6-8 weeks for data analysis, including abstracts that require data analysis

Services & Equipment

 Key Services

Biostatistics:

  • Clinical trials (design, sample size and power calculations, protocol development, support for ongoing trials, data analysis, reporting)
  • Study design (experimental design, power analysis and sample size, statistical analysis plan development)
  • Statistical analysis (data analysis for clinical, preclinical and population studies, variety of statistical methods, data visualization, interpretation of results, manuscript writing)
  • Grant development
  • Reproducible research using R and R Markdown
  • Disease-oriented collaboration

Bioinformatics:

  • Genomic data analysis (WGS, Exome)
  • Transcriptomics (Bulk and Single Cell)
  • Epigenetics (ChIP-seq, Cut&Run, ATAC-seq)
  • DNA methylation
  • Microbiome
  • Guidance on methods
  • Collaboration with Biostats
Clinical Informatics:
  • EDW data request
  • EDW feasibility estimates
  • REDCap database setup
  • Data integration (EDW, REDCap)
  • Biobank setup
  • COE/Catchment area maps

QDSC members also engage in the following activities:

  • Collaboration with LCC members and their research teams across all Programs
  • Collaboration with LCC resources, including Clinical Trials office, Pathology Core Facility, Center for Advanced Microscopy, and Community Outreach and Engagement
  • Collaboration on funded grants as co-investigators or MPI’s
  • Grant development
  • Manuscripts and conference presentation writing
  • Integrated expertise across data science disciplines on complex problems involving biostatistics and bioinformatics
  • Education and mentoring for residents, fellows, graduate students and junior faculty through individual discussions, seminars, lecture series, journal clubs, thesis advising and formal courses

 

 Acknowledgement

Authorship is generally expected whenever substantive input on the design or analysis is provided. We endorse the criteria recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, which state that authorship credit should be based on meeting the following criteria:

  1. Substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis, or interpretation of data; and
  2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.

CCSG support

  • All manuscripts and grants presenting work supported by QDSC should include the following acknowledgement: “Research reported in this publication was supported by the NCI Award Number P30CA060553.”

 

Core Navigator

Icon representing navigationFor guidance on which cores may be most useful for your research and to coordinate use, please use the AI-powered Core Navigator chatbot, use the information request form or contact Sara Fernandez Dunne at s-fernandez@northwestern.edu or 847.491.5960.