Biostatistics Core Facility

I. Timeline Policy

Biostatisticians usually work on multiple projects at a given time. Sufficient time will be needed for the biostatistician to appropriately address your needs before your deadline. Please allow adequate lead-time when contacting the core facility for assistance. Below are the minimum times needed to complete types of biostatistical support requests:

Protocol development/ grant application/re-submission – at least 4 weeks to provide tailored input from the biostatisticians.

Data analysis project – at least 2 weeks after receiving the data. Depending on the quality and complexity of data analysis, etc., more time may be required.

REDCap database development project – at least 2 weeks after the discussion on project specifications. Depending on complexity of form structure, more time may be required.

Size of the project	Examples of service requests & what activities may be involved			Hours estimation guidelines
Brief	Research design, including sample size estimation Data analysis advice and input REDCap Database implementation for less than five forms			<5
Short	REDCap Database design and implementation for less than seven forms, or implementation for less than 15 forms Abstracts: descriptive statistics and/or univariate inference analysis Pilot data analysis for grant application Manuscript review and advice (addressing reviewer’s comments)			5-15
Medium	Abstracts require multivariable modeling REDCap Database design and implementation for more than 20 forms, projects that require medium-complex linking implementation (e.g., longitudinal projects with multiple years and events and/or multi-dimensional projects), or projects that require features not included in standalone REDCap (e.g., Dynamic SQL, API, Data Entry Trigger, etc)			16-39
Long	Statistical analysis for regular scientific manuscripts, including figures/tables and write-up Complex REDCap implementations requiring features outside of standalone REDCap (e.g., Dynamic SQL, API, Data Entry Trigger, etc.); application-level relational database development (e.g., databases held on a standalone website)			>40

II. Authorship Policy

Biostatisticians who contribute to study design and/or conduct data analysis will be qualified as co-authors on the publication/abstract/presentation to acknowledge their scientific and intellectual contribution to the work. Funding/fees for time does not preclude or replace authorship. Consideration for authorship should be based on the contribution of each person and on the accepted criteria for most medical journals. These criteria generally cite both study design and statistical analysis as intellectual input sufficient for authorship. For more information, please refer to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Authorship guidelines (www.icmje.org).

III. Grant Acknowledgement Policy

The JABSOM Biostatistics Core Facility is a research facility partially supported by an institutional infrastructure grant. Acknowledgement of this grant in all publications or presentations resulting from the utilization of biostatistics core services is required. The grant should be acknowledged in the following format: “XXX (Individual biostatistician(s)) was (were) partially supported by the U54MD007601 (Ola HAWAII) from the National Institute of Health (NIH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH.”

IV. Request for Resources

Investigators should request resources or consultations from the Biostatistics Core Facility by using the Request for Resources online form.

V. Fee Structure

Grant Proposal Development
We provide up to 20 hours of no-charge support toward extramural grant proposal development that includes salary support for biostatistics faculty/staff at 10% FTE and above. This option is appropriate for research proposals that would benefit from significant involvement of a biostatistician, usually as a co-investigator or key personnel, both while writing the grant and once it is funded. Grant applications are strengthened and prospects for funding improved by closely collaborating with a biostatistician(s) during the proposal development stage.

Statistical Analysis Project Support
Our service is offered at no charge for the initial consultations (~ 1 hour).

The Biostatistics Core Facility offers three mechanisms for additional hours of biostatistical support for funded projects:
1) Collaborative full-time equivalent (FTE) approach
2) Project-based (fixed price) contract, or
3) Short-term hourly based fee-for-service (FFS) agreement.

Collaborative Full-time Equivalent
A collaborative FTE approach is primarily used for long-term projects, such as an extramural grant. The Biostatistics Core Facility faculty and staff can provide collaborative support through a fixed negotiated percentage of effort. For example, a 20% FTE would be the equivalent of about 8 hours a week. This can be a cost-effective and efficient approach to ensure comprehensive and stable biostatistical analytic support for your project.

Project-based*
A project-based (fixed price) contract is recommended for medium- to long-term projects. During the consultation, the scope of work and total cost of the project will be determined between the biostatistician and the investigator. Changes to the project scope with corresponding impact to the effort and budget may be made with written notice to the Biostatistics Core Facility.

Hourly-based*
The short-term FFS mechanism is ideal for projects with small datasets, preliminary analyses, or small tasks within a larger study that the Biostatistics Core Facility could support on a short-term basis. Charges are determined based on the number of hours spent working on the project and the following hourly rates.

Rates
Biostatistics Core Facility Rate for University of Hawaii (effective date July 1, 2019):

Faculty Statistician: $120 per hour
Staff Statistician: $80 per hour
Staff Programmer: $80 per hour

*A 2% administrative will be added for project-based support or hourly-based support.

Ola HAWAII-Supported Projects
Projects supported through the Ola HAWAII infrastructure grant may qualify for reduced fees based on the re-charge algorithm below.

The following re-charge algorithm is provided as a general guideline:

Projects led by University of Hawaii Junior Researchers as Principal Investigators (PIs) (Assistant Professor or below) who currently receive pilot funding (<$100k) from UH infrastructure grants				25% of Core rate
Health disparity studies with University of Hawaii researchers as PIs				50% of Core rate
Non-health disparity studies by University of Hawaii Investigators				Full Core rate
Pharmaceutical studies; non-UH external projects				Please contact: biostat@hawaii.edu

VI. JABSOM Medical Trainees

With allocated funding from the Dean’s Office, JABSOM medical trainees (i.e. medical students, residents or fellows) may have access to biostatistical support at no charge. If you are a JABSOM medical trainee and meet the following criteria: (1) PI of your research project and (2) first author of forthcoming publications related to your research project, you can schedule a consultation through the Medical Trainee Consultation Calendar (https://qhs.jabsom.hawaii.edu/biostatistics-core/consulting/). Do not submit a separate JABSOM Biostatistics Core Facility request form.

The biostatistical consultant and the supervising/supporting Biostatistics Core Facility faculty member, if any, will be listed as co-author(s) on all resulting publications, presentations, abstracts, and posters if significant intellectual contributions were made.

The following acknowledgement will be included in all publications and presentations as a result of the consulting services provided: The project described was supported by the Office of the Dean through the Barry & Virginia Weinman Endowment. XXX (Individual biostatistician(s)) was (were) partially supported by the U54MD007601 (Ola HAWAII) grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH."

If you have any questions please contact the Biostatistics Core Facility at biostat@hawaii.edu

Version Date: June 14, 2021