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Phase I
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Phase II
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overview
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My research activities focus on biostatistics in cancer research. A large fraction of my time is spent collaborating with oncologists designing and analyzing clinical trials. In designing a trial, I determine the most efficient way to answer the clinical question of interest, including how many patients should be studied, and how the trial will be conducted. The analysis consists of applying statistical methods to determine if, for example, the new treatment helped patients survive longer than they would have on another treatment. I also work on laboratory-based studies, including the exploration of the relationship between genetic markers and cancer incidence and progression. There are numerous types of trials and studies within the Cancer Center and so the analytic methods that I use and the scientific questions I address are quite varied.
My methodologic research relates closely to my applied interests. My primary statistical research areas of interest are in early phase studies. Specifically, I work on methods for finding efficient dose escalation designs and on new trial designs that allow early stopping when the primary outcome of interest is time to disease progression.
Since 2007, I have served as the Director of the Biostatistics Shared Resource of the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC. HCC earned NCI designation in 2008, and was redesignated in 2013. I also serve as the Director for the Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics in the Department of Public Health Sciences.
My teaching portfolio consists of many topics. Courses I have taught include Survival Analysis, Introductory Biostatistics (for PhD students and MPH students), Regression Methods, Statistics for Psychosocial Research, Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, Statistical Computing for Research, and Biostatistics (for Medical Students). I teach numerous lectures locally and give educational lectures to oncologists and patient advocates on topics within biostatistics and oncology clinical trials. I enjoy mentoring students, and have served as the primary advisor for 5 Biostatistics PhD students.
My service outside the institution includes NIH grant review committees; AACR and ASCO scientific and planning committees, and ad hoc working groups to address specific challenges; membership on a number of data safety and monitoring board; and Associate Editor of Clinical Trials, and membership on the Editorial Board for Cancer. Within MUSC, I am a 10 year member of the Protocol Review Committee for the Hollings Cancer Center, on the admissions committee for the MSTP program in the College of Graduate Studies, and a member of the University Tenure Committee.
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