For projects that involve billable consulting services (e.g., hands-on data analysis, database consulting or randomizations), you will be asked to fill out the Office of Biostatistical Services (OBS) Intake Form (DOC).
You and the OBS consultant will jointly determine what the scope of work will be.
Before initiation of any billable work, the OBS consultant will provide you with a range estimate for the total cost.
If unforeseen problems arise during execution of the project, such as errors in the data set, or there is a change in the scope of work, the cost estimate may need to be revised.
Please see the current fee structure (PDF).
For study design consultations, it is helpful to bring background materials such as a draft of your grant application, Institutional Review Board (IRB) application or study protocol. Copies of key publications related to your topic can also be useful.
If you will be requesting a statistical power or sample size calculation for a randomized trial, your consultant will need information about the expected outcomes in the control group and the magnitude of effect that you would like the study to be able to detect.
Most commonly, the information needed is an estimate of the mean and standard deviation of the primary outcome measurement for each group. For studies that involve comparison of proportions, no standard deviation estimate is required.
Maximum recruitment potential is also a key factor in evaluating sample size options, so any information you have on the availability of eligible subjects at study sites, budgetary constraints or logistical limitations is also useful.
For projects that will involve hands-on data analysis by an OBS consultant, bringing copies of case report form templates, data coding keys, electronic file templates and/or the actual data files is a good idea.
If you foresee your project requiring any billable services, please be prepared to supply a research Activity Number or other type of billing information at the time of your initial consultation with OBS.