Models of Infrastructure for Statistical Support in NIHR units

1. Models of Infrastructure for Statistical Support in NIHR units Professor Deborah Ashby Imperial College London

2. Outline • NIHR • Statistics and NIHR • Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate • Relationship to other organisations

3. Outline • NIHR • Statistics and NIHR • Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate • Relationship to other organisations

4. NIHR • Goal • The goal of the NIHR is to create a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public. • Vision • To improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.

5. NIHR

6. Outline • NIHR • Statistics and NIHR • Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate • Relationship to other organisations

7. Statistics and NIHR • Where? • What does NIHR get from statistics? • What does NIHR give to statistics?

8. Statistics and NIHR • Where? BRCs, BRUs, CTUs, RDS, HTA grants, Programme Grants, RfBP……. • What does NIHR get from statistics? Statistics pivotal to work • What does NIHR give to statistics? Funding, challenges, a good environment,…..

9. Outline • NIHR • Statistics and NIHR • Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate • Relationship to other organisations

10. Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • Statisticians in Universities • Grants • Publications • REF • Papers • Impact • Statisticians in NHS • For discussion • Fellowships • NIHR Faculty

11. NIHR Research Methods Programme The aims of the programme are: • To ensure that the research funded by the NIHR is based on the highest quality applied research methods • To increase the numbers (capacity) and the skills (capability) of individuals with high-level expertise in applied health research methods • Masters Studentships in Medical Statistics • Masters Studentships in Economics of Health • Research Methods Fellowship and Internship Scheme • Research Methods Opportunity Funding Scheme

12. Masters Studentships in Medical Statistics and Health Economics Medical Statistics: • 16 Studentships per annum 2010-2012 • Based in Lancaster, Leicester, LSHTM, Reading, Southampton Health Economics • 16 Studentships per annum 2011-2013 • Based in York, Sheffield, City University, London

13. Research Methods Fellowship and Internship Scheme Fellowships are aimed at individuals who are either; • In their early post-graduate career; or • Returning to the work-place after a career break; and • Who are looking to change the focus of their career whilst still utilising their undergraduate / previous training. Interns are aimed at the brightest undergraduates (in mathematics, economics, or physics for example) for the summer following the second year of their degree (or third year of a four year degree). • 2009 – 15 Awards (NIHR Grants / CTUs / Trials Hubs) • 2011 – 18 Awards (NIHR Senior Investigators)

14. Research Methods Opportunity Funding Scheme • 13 Awards made • Encourage departments with outstanding research strengths in statistics and operational research or economics and econometrics to become involved in NIHR relevant research • Develop capacity and capability

15. NIHRTCC Research Career Pathways Methodologists Methodology Programme Healthcare Scientists CSO HCS Programme Doctors and Dentists NIHR Integrated Academic Training Programme All Professions NIHR Fellowships and Professorships Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals Clinical Academic Training Level of Award Chair Professorships --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------a NIHR/CNO/HEFCE Senior Academic Clinical Lecturer NIHR Senior Research Fellowship Senior/ Pre-Chair -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NIHR Clinician Scientist Award NIHR/CNO Clinical Lectureships NIHR Career Development Fellowship Senior Post-Doc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CSO Health Care Scientist Post-Doctoral Fellowship NIHR Clinical Lectureship NIHR Post-Doctoral Fellowship Early Post-Doc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CSO Health Care Scientist Doctoral Fellowship NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship NIHR/CNO Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowships Doctoral ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Masters in Health Economics NIHR/CNO Masters in Clinical Research In-Practice Fellowships and NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships Pre-Doctoral/ Masters Masters in Medical Statistics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Methodology Fellowships and Interns Undergraduate

16. Methodologies • Statistics, modelling, health economics, trial design, monitoring of trials, methods for evaluation of diagnostic/ prognostic markers, trial conduct, qualitative methods….. • How can the research tools be sharpened to allow NIHR to do its research more effectively and efficiently?

17. Where to apply for a methodological fellowship? • Methodology pivotal to NIHR research, so methodological applications welcome at all levels • MRC has Strategic Skills fellowships, so need to think through which is more appropriate, based on motivation, level of fellowship and scope of work

18. Challenges • Showing relevance to NIHR • Demonstrating benefit to patients within 3-5 years • Explaining the ideas to non-methodologists • Planning methodology research can be harder than primary research

19. Translational Methodology? • What’s our equivalent of ‘bench to bedside’? • Bringing recent developments out from the basic scientists in the (non-medical) parts of universities into the tool-boxes of NIHR researchers….. • …..to the ultimate benefit of patients.

20. Outline • NIHR • Statistics and NIHR • Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate • Relationship to other organisations

21. How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate with each other? • Within institutions Levels of connectedness currently very varied between institutions/ regions • Between institutions Very dependent on other conduits

22. How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate with other NIHR Faculty? • Junior statisticians As part of day-to-day work • Mid-career statisticians On TSCs, DMECs, • Senior Statisticians NIHR grant-funding bodies, NIHR Senior Leadership Support and Development Programme , NIHR Senior Investigator meetings

23. Outline • NIHR • Statistics and NIHR • Careers for statisticians working in NIHR • How do NIHR statisticians inter-relate • Relationship to other organisations

24. Relationship to other organisations • RSS- including CStat and CPD • Medical Section • Primary Care Study Group • PSI • ISCB

25. Conclusion • Statistics and statisticians are pivotal to NIHR and very much valued by NIHR as an organisation. • There are many opportunities for grant funding and fellowships open to statisticians. • NIHR has grown very quickly. Statisticians are involved in all aspects of NIHR. Some groups, including RDS, and CTUs have regular contact within those networks • It’s timely to build on that further to the benefit of statisticians, statistics and NIHR.