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Medical Research in the Public Sector

Working as Medical Statistician in the Public Sector Chris Roberts Centre for Biostatistics University of Manchester. Medical Research in the Public Sector. A major employer for statisticians in the UK is medical research. In the UK almost all medical research take place in the NHS.

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Medical Research in the Public Sector

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  1. Working as Medical Statistician in the Public SectorChris RobertsCentre for BiostatisticsUniversity of Manchester

  2. Medical Research in the Public Sector • A major employer for statisticians in the UK is medical research. • In the UK almost all medical research take place in the NHS. • Much of this research linked to Universities. • University of Manchester employs at least 50+ statisticians working in health related research.

  3. Examples of medical research in which statistical methods are applied • Testing treatment - Clinical Trials and Clinical Databases • Determining the cause of disease and ill health - Epidemiological Studies. • Pre-clinical and laboratory studies - Experimental Design • Diagnostic and Prognostic Studies • Measurement Studies.

  4. What does a medical statistician do? Collaborative research • Study designand conduct. • Determining sample size. • Data analysis. Advise medical researchers. • Design • Appropriate statistical analysis Statistical methodology.

  5. Boots Trial of Anti-Ageing Skin Cream • Heralded as the first randomised controlled trial of an anti-ageing cream. • Results published in a media blaze of publicity. • Shelves emptied within days.

  6. Boots Anti-Ageing Skin Cream

  7. Media Publicity of The Clinical Trial • The £19 anti-wrinkle cream set to cause a stampede at Boots after scientists claim it DOES actually work. Daily Mail, April 29 2009 • Wonder cream does banish wrinkles, say scientists. Daily Express, April 29 2009 • £20 Boots gel beats wrinkles. The Sun, April 29 2009 • Cream does cut wrinkles say experts. Daily Mirror, April 29 2009 • High St skin cream really does reduce the signs of ageing. The Times, April 29 2009 • 'Proof' face creams beat wrinkles. BBC News, April 29 2009 • Protect and Perfect: anti-ageing face cream 'first proven to reduce wrinkles'. The Daily Telegraph, April 29 2009 • Is a scientist's face proof that a £20 skin cream really gets rid of wrinkles? The Independent, April 29 2009 • Boots anti-wrinkle cream actually works, say researchers. The Guardian, April 29 2009

  8. Statistical analysis technically correct but misleading and inappropriate.Critique in the Royal Statistical Society Magazine SignificanceKeep young and beautiful: evidence for an “anti-aging” product?Martin Bland Significance Vol 6 No 4 2009Original published paperA cosmetic 'anti-ageing' product improves photoaged skin: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Watson REB Ogden S Cotterell LF, et al. British Journal of Dermatology 2009 Revised titleEffects of a cosmetic ‘anti-ageing’ product on photoaged skin An Example of the Misuse of Statistical Methods.

  9. How do I become a medical statistician? • MSc in Medical Statistics or Biostatistics Well established courses with funded places include Lancaster, Leicester, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine • MSc in Statistics • PhD Fellowships • Methodological – developing new statistical methods • Application of statistical methods • Direct entry from a BSc in Maths & Statistics

  10. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Methods Fellowship Scheme NIHR Methods Fellowships • Funding to complete an MSc in Statistics followed by 12 months of vocational training as a medical statistician. • Linked NIHR Methods Internship for students in the penultimate year of their UG course.

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