- Overview
- Services
- Policies
- Members
- Request for Services
- Seminars/Workshops
- Publications
- Resources
- Contact
Overview
A strong research design and biostatistics support play a critical role in the long-term success of clinical and translational research and education enterprises. Current research studies involve complex study design and generate complicated multivariate data, which require biostatistics expertise. The Biostatistics Core Facility under the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences provides biostatistical research support to basic science, clinical, and translational investigators. The core specializes in study design, data health management and data analysis, participates in grant proposal development, conducts methodology research, and provides education in biostatistics and other related areas.
JABSOM medical trainees (i.e., medical students, residents or fellows): If you meet the following criteria,
- You are the Principal Investigator (PI) of this research project
- You will be the first author of forthcoming publications related to this research project
and agree to the following:
- The biostatistical consultant and the supervising 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 acknowledgment 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."
you can directly schedule a consultation appointment through the Medical Trainee Consultation Calendar. Do not submit a separate JABSOM Biostatistics Core Facility request form. Projects that require data analysis are recommended to meet with a biostatistician at least 4 weeks ahead of the project deadline. Depending on the quality and complexity of data analysis, etc., more time may be required.
For all other requests, please fill out the form below:
Services
The faculty and staff Biostatistics Core Facility are ready to provide high-quality, efficient, and reliable biostatistics collaboration and support services to promote excellence in education and research:
- Consultation & Fee-for-Service Projects
- Data Analysis
- Grant Proposal Development
- Research Design
- Database Development & Management
- Results Dissemination
Consultations & Fee-for-Service Projects
We provide a free initial consultation for each research project. The initial consultation provides a perfect opportunity for researchers to explore ideas/hypotheses, and to discuss study feasibility with Biostatistics Core Facility faculty and/or staff.
For short-term or non-extramurally funded projects, we offer biostatistical support through a fee-for-service basis. Biostatistics Core Facility faculty and staff provide research design, database design and management, data analysis, and results interpretation and dissemination services to research and education projects funded by the investigator's department funds or other sources.
Data Analysis
Biostatistics Core Facility faculty and staff provide comprehensive biostatistics data analysis as listed below:
- Data coding and management
- Comprehensive univariate and multivariate analyses
- Data and safety monitoring, including interim analyses
- Large healthcare data analytics
- Tailored statistical tool development to address specific research questions and challenges
Grant Proposal & Development
To encourage and facilitate more research activities at JABSOM and its affiliated institutes, the Biostatistics Core Facility will provide research design and data analysis plan support and expertise in the development of extramural grant proposals. Excluding extensive preliminary data analysis, the support is currently free of charge as long as an adequate percentage FTE of the participating faculty and staff is built into the grant budget.
As grant application deadlines tend to be clustered around certain dates, please contact us well before the deadline so we will be able to properly support your grant application and increase your chance of obtaining funding.
Research Design
A strong research design is critical for basic science, clinical and translational research. The involvement of experienced biostatistics specialists in the development of a research project tends to significantly increase the quality of an investigation. Funding agencies and study sessions are focusing more on the research design of a proposed study to ensure the design is optimal. Biostatistics Core Facility faculty and staff members have research design expertise in the following areas:
- Research feasibility discussion to establish testable research hypothesis
- Sample size and statistical power determination
- Data-instrument development, such as questionnaires
- Data-coding protocols
- Sampling procedures
- Study design and statistical analysis plan development for grants
Note: To help increase the likelihood of obtaining extramural funding, Biostatistics Core faculty and staff need sufficient time to customize the research design and data analysis sections for your individual research proposal. We strongly recommend that you contact us as early as possible, at least several weeks before the submission deadline.
Database Development & Management
Database Development & Management involves the use of information technology interventions for clinical and translational research projects. The Biostatistics Core Facility has experience in various areas, including:
- Database design and programming
- Large healthcare data management
- Web application development
Results Dissemination
The BQHS faculty and staff have extensive experience with results presentation and dissemination, such as:
- Biostatistics results interpretation
- Results presentations (e.g., figures, tables) for manuscripts and posters
- Biostatistics methodology and results sections development for reports and manuscripts
Note: Authorship is generally expected on scientific journal articles or presentations, where substantial efforts on research design and/or data analysis are provided. Reimbursement for Biostatistics Core Facility support (either through %FTE or fee-for-service) does not preclude or replace authorship.
Training & Education
Our experienced faculty and staff at the Biostatistics Core Facility provide the following mentoring and training:
- For-credit biostatistics courses of various levels of difficulty (please see education for details)
- Biostatistics workshops and seminars for trainees (graduate students, residents, fellows), faculty, and staff
- Serving as biostatistics mentors for students and trainees
Policy
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 |
|
<5 | ||
Short |
|
5-15 | ||
Medium |
|
16-39 | ||
Long |
|
>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 5% administrative will be added for project-based support or hourly-based support (effective date July 1, 2021).
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: January 13, 2022
Members
John Chen, Ph.D. | Professor and Chair; Director, Biostatistics Core Facility
Email: jjchen@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1814
James Davis, Ph.D., M.S. | Associate Professor
Email: jamesdav@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1806
Hyeong Jun Ahn, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor
Email: hjahn@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1822
Eunjung Lim, Ph.D. | Associate Professor
Email: lime@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1817
Chathura Siriwardhana, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor
Email: cksiri@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1487
Masako Matsunaga, Ph.D. | Biostatistical Analyst
Email: mmatsuna@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1819
Kyle Ishikawa, M.S. | Biostatistical Analyst
Email: kylemish@hawaii.edu
Munirih Taafaki, M.S., C.C.R.P. | Junior Specialist, Department and Graduate Program Administrator
Email: mtaafaki@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1812
Meliza Roman, M.S. | Coordinator
Email: melizar@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 692-1466
Request for Services
JABSOM medical trainees (i.e., medical students, residents or fellows): If you meet the following criteria,
- You are the Principal Investigator (PI) of this research project
- You will be the first author of forthcoming publications related to this research project
you can directly schedule a consultation appointment through the Medical Trainee Consultation Calendar. Do not submit a separate JABSOM Biostatistics Core Facility request form.
For all other requests, please fill out the form below to help us better coordinate our support and meet your specific needs.
If your request is related to a project supported by an organization with a partnership agreement with JABSOM Biostatistics Core Facility, please let us know in your request.
Seminars/Workshops
We have provided over 50 seminars and workshops to over a dozen departments/institutes in the past five years with a variety of statistical topics including basic biostatistics, clinical and translational research using big data, research design, and bioethics in statistics. Our faculty members have mentored visiting scholars, students, and trainees, and have served as thesis and dissertation committee members of graduate students from across campus.
Our experienced faculty and staff at the Biostatistics Core Facility provide the following mentoring and training:
- For-credit biostatistics courses of various levels of difficulty (please see Education for details)
- Biostatistics workshops and seminars for trainees (graduate students, residents, fellows), faculty, and staff
- Serving as biostatistics mentors for students and trainees
Note: For upcoming seminars or workshops, please contact us for details.
Publications
If you utilize the Biostatistics Core Facility in publications, abstracts, posters, and oral presentations, please insert the following acknowledgement as a result from the services provided to you:
"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."
List of Selected Publications
- Panizza CE, Boushey CJ, Delp EJ, Kerr DA, Lim E, Gandhi K, Banna JC. Characterizing early adolescent food waste using the mobile food record. Nutrients. 2017 Jan;9(93):1-10. doi:10.3390/nu9020093.
- Lim E, Gandhi K, Davis J, Chen JJ. Prevalence of chronic conditions and multimorbidities in a geographically defined geriatric population with diverse races and ethnicities. Journal of Aging and Health. 2016 Dec;doi:10.1177/0898264316680903. PubMed PMID: 27913765.
- Kumar M, Ching L, Astern J, Lim E, Stokes AJ, Melish M, Nerukar VR. Prevalence of antibodies to zika virus in mothers from Hawaii who delivered babies with and without microcephaly between 2009-2012. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2016 Dec;10(12):1-8. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005262. PubMed PMID: 27997547.
- Sentell T, Ahn HJ, Miyamura J, Taira DA. Thirty-day inpatient readmissions for Asian American and Pacific Islander subgroups compared with Whites. Medical Care Research and Review. 2016 Nov;doi:10.1177/1077558716676595.
- Fukunaga BT, Sumida WK, Taira DA, Davis JW, Seto TB. Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteremia related to medicare antibiotic prescriptions: a state-level analysis. Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health. 2016 Oct;75(10):303-309. PubMed PMID: 27738564; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5056633.
Biostatistics Resources
Online Statistical Courses
Johns Hopkins University Biostatistics Courses
Free biostatistics courses are available from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's OpenCourseWare(OCW) projectMIT Statistics for Applications Course
Other MIT OpenCourseWare courses include Introduction to Probability and Statistics and Mathematical Statistics.Carnegie Mellon University Statistical Reasoning Course
Probability and Statistics course is also available on the website of CMU Open Learning Initiative.Simon Fraser University Intermediate Sampling and Experimental Design Course
How to Choose a Statistical Test?
Decision Tree
The link is based on the book "A Guide for Selecting Statistical Techniques for Analyzing Social Science Data" (Second Edition).Decision Table
The link is associated with the book "Intuitive Biostatistics: Choosing a statistical test" (First Edition).
Statistical Calculators
P-value Calculator
Online P-value Calculator
For a sample from a population with a known proabability distribution, a p-value can be calculated using an online calculator. The program was developed by Dr. Hossein Arsham of the University of Baltimore.
Power and Sample Size Calculators
Power and sample size calculation is crucial to properly plan your study and control your budget. Several JavaScript based calculators are available at University of California or University of Iowa.
Note: Power and sample size calculation is intended to help design a study. It is not intended to be conducted after the data have already been collected. We highly recommend that a researcher who is planning for a study consults a professional biostatistician well before the initiation of the study.

University of Hawaiʻ i John A. Burns School of Medicine
651 Ilalo Street
Medical Education Building, Suite 411
Honolulu, HI 96813
Director: John Chen, Ph.D.
Phone: (808) 692-1814
Email: biostat@hawaii.edu