Welcome

I want to welcome you to the Web site of the Department of Biostatistics. The Department of Biostatistics was one of the original departments of Public Health when it was founded in 1949.  Faculty members in the department continue to make important contributions to the development of new statistical methodology and to provide the quantitative component to public health and biomedical research efforts that have had a major impact on the prevention and treatment of disease. Collaborative research efforts in the areas of breast cancer, colon cancer, health services and outcomes research, occupational health and otolaryngology are internationally recognized. Graduates from the program have assumed leadership roles in academia, industry, and government. The Department currently has 27 full-time faculty members, and more than 80 students currently enrolled in one of the academic degree programs. In addition, more than 90 research and support staff participate in our educational and research programs. 

As you review the information contained in the Web site, you will see that the Department provides training in statistical methodology leading to an M.S. or Ph.D. degree as well as training in applying quantitative methods to public health problems leading to an M.P.H. or Dr.P.H. degree. Students interested in the Ph.D. also have the opportunity to specialize in statistical genetics. In all of our degree programs the students will apply statistical methodology to problems in public health and medicine. The extensive experience of the faculty in addressing "real world problems" helps the students "bridge the gap" between their theoretical knowledge base and the practical aspects of addressing complex, multidisciplinary public health and biomedical issues.

The educational program is supported by the Department's extensive array of collaborative research projects. The Biostatistics Department supplies the primary quantitative component to funded research projects totaling more than 12 million dollars annually. Areas of collaborative research include cancer, otolaryngology, radiological imaging systems, psychiatry, health services and outcomes research, and occupational and environmental health. Faculty members in the Department direct the Biostatistical Center for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), and the Center for Occupational Biostatistics and Epidemiology (COBE).

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) is a cooperative clinical trials group dedicated to the evaluation of new modalities of treatment and prevention for operable breast and colorectal cancer. The NSABP is internationally recognized for its contributions in breast and colorectal cancer and has randomized more then 60,000 patients to more than 30 randomized clinical trials. Faculty members in the Department of Biostatistics also direct the the Biostatistical Core for the Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (PCI). The extensive collaborative research in the Department of Biostatistics provides the financial support to fund a large number of graduate student researchers (GSRs).  These 20 hours/week positions awarded to students include a monthly stipend as well as a tuition waiver for full-time students in one of the Biostatistics programs. GSRs allow students to finance their education while gaining relevant experience working on important research problems.

The Center for Occupational Biostatistics and Epidemiology (COBE) was formed in February 2008 by University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) as a research center dedicated to occupational biostatistics and epidemiology. The mission of the COBE, based on an approach that is collaborative and multidisciplinary, is to build on the GSPH’s successful, long-standing history in developing and applying biostatistical methods to the study of workplace exposures and health outcomes.

In addition to an extensive collaborative effort the Department of Biostatistics is committed to the development of statistical methodology in order to better analyze and interpret studies in public health and medicine. Areas of methodological development include survival analysis, missing data analysis, sampling techniques, interrater reliability, exploratory data analysis, clinical trials design, ROC analysis, stochastic modeling, and sequential methods. The academic program provides doctoral students with the necessary tools to subsequently develop an area of independent methodological research.

We look forward to meeting with you to develop a career in the area of Biostatistics.  Thank you for your interest in our Department.


Howard E. Rockette, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Biostatistics

Webmaster:
Susan Grasky, BSIS

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Department of Biostatistics, 130 Desoto Street, 311 Parran Hall,
Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: (412) 624-3022 Fax: (412) 624-2183

Revised on April 9, 2008