Biostatistics & Epidemiology Research Projects

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The Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology houses two research centers, focused on a wide range of topics with expertise and services provided by faculty, staff and graduate research assistants. The Biostatistics and Epidemiology Research Design and Analysis Center (BSE RDAC) provides biostatistical and epidemiological consultation and collaborative support for research initiated by OUHSC investigator and community partners. The Center for American Indian Health Research (CAIHR) is a multidisciplinary research center with a goal of improving the health status of the American Indian population.

The Department has an active, wide-ranging program of ongoing research studies.

Current research in biostatistics includes

longitudinal and other correlated data analysis
survival and clinical trials methodology
adaptive clinical trial design
statistical disclosure control
survey sampling and missing data methods
statistical genetics
high-dimensional and big-data analysis
causal inference
machine learning
attitudes toward data privacy and data sharing with researchers
statistical methods involving mHealth and community health studies in areas such as tobacco, obesity, diabetes, cancer prevention and control, diabetes and its complications, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, and developmental disabilities in adults and children

Current epidemiologic research includes both infectious and non-infectious disease studies

infectious disease surveillance and collaboration with state and local health departments in responding to current epidemics
wastewater surveillance to monitor the prevalence and distribution of infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, and potentially other public health issues of concern
research with populations infected with specific diseases under study including Campylobacter jejuni, SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, influenza, HCV and HIV
transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2
environmental and climate impacts on infectious diseases
development of a national surveillance system for venous thromboembolism
using innovative technology, such as machine learning and natural language processing to automate surveillance processes
opioid and marijuana use
factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy
risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in American Indian populations
evaluation of health communication campaigns and health-related programs
smoking cessation and nicotine dependence
social determinants of health and health disparities in vulnerable populations
obesity prevention in school age children
surgical outcomes and health services research
cancer etiology, survivorship and health disparities among American Indian populations
pediatric health
aeroallergens, air pollution and asthma
patient reported outcomes
clinical, lifestyle and environmental risk factors for maternal and child health outcomes
environmental chemical exposures and gestational diabetes
collaborative clinical research on factors influencing fertility treatment outcomes
nutrition and food insecurity
risk and protective factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias in urban American Indians and Alaska Natives
assessment of prevalence, nature, and extent of sleep deficiencies among American Indians

Associated BSE Research Centers

Biostatistics & Epidemiology Research Design & Analysis Center (BSE RDAC)

The Biostatistics and Epidemiology Research Design and Analysis Center (BSE RDAC), in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the OUHSC Hudson College of Public Health, provides biostatistical and epidemiological expertise and collaborative support for research initiated by OUHSC investigator and community partners. Faculty, staff, and graduate research assistants in the BSE RDAC provide expertise in areas ranging from formulation of research questions, research design, study implementation and monitoring, data collection and management, data analysis, and dissemination of findings.

RDAC Website

Center for American Indian Health Research (CAIHR)

Center for American Indian Health Research (CAIHR) is a multidisciplinary research organization and conducts health-related studies in partnership with American Indian communities. The ultimate goal of the research at CAIHR is to improve the health status of the American Indian populations. CAIHR conducts epidemiological, clinical, and environmental studies of health problems among these populations. The aim of these CAIHR research studies is to learn more about heart, lung, and blood vessel diseases, diabetes, the risk factors for these conditions and how they change over time, and how they may be related to liver disease, cancer, and conditions that inflammation. CAIHR also conducts studies focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. CAIHR has developed mutually respectful and productive relationship with American Indian tribes in Oklahoma, Arizona, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Website

Associated BSE Projects

Cancer Research Education Program (C-REP)

The Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma State University (OSU), and the Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (OUHSC) have partnered together on a National Cancer Institute-funded Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equality (PACHE) P20 program to develop a Cancer Research Education Program (C-REP). The C-REP aims to expand the pool of students, researchers, and collaborators who meaningfully engage in American Indian cancer health equality research. The C-REP includes a series of research experiences, curricula, and outreach programs to provide cancer health equity training and career development to undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students, early stage investigators, as well as SCC and OSU faculty and staff learners.

C-REP Research Experiences

CRISP for Undergraduates

The C-REP has developed the Cancer Research Immersion Summer Program (CRISP) which is a nine-week summer research program for undergraduate students to gain experience in cancer health equity research. CRISP provides formal mentorship and hands-on research experiences as well as the opportunity for students to present their research at the conclusion of the program. The CRISP research topic areas are focused on American Indian cancer health equity research and may be related to basic laboratory science, clinical and translational research, or public and community health.

For more information about CRISP, click HERE

Medical Student Research Experiences

The C-REP offers hands-on research experiences for medical student volunteers at the partnering locations (SCC and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, OSU in Stillwater, and Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah) during the summer to align with the CRISP program or throughout the year as part of a research rotation.

Early Stage Investigators Pilot Research Projects

The C-REP provides training and career development opportunities for both early stage investigators and students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels through hands-on experiences related to the two pilot research studies in the P20 PACHE program.

Research Pilot 1 Electronic Cigarette Use among Pregnant American Indian Women: This project addresses electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among American Indian pregnant women. This pilot study uses biochemical verification of nicotine exposures and survey data to describe baseline prevalence of e-cigarette and tobacco use, cotinine levels, and patterns of use among pregnant American Indian women. The study aims to describe perceptions of health risks associated with tobacco and e-cigarette use during pregnancy and assess the prevalence of low birth weight and preterm birth among infants of American Indian women by tobacco and e-cigarette status.

Research Pilot 2 Tobacco Cessation among American Indian Cancer Survivors in Cherokee Nation: This project evaluates tobacco cessation experiences and examine current tobacco cessation practices delivered in primary care and oncology care among American Indian cancer survivors served in the Cherokee Nation Health System. This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to tobacco cessation support and develop tailored strategies to improve implementation of tobacco cessation services at Cherokee Nation.

Mentoring

The C-REP has a diverse pool of existing mentors identified for the program located in Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Tulsa, and Tahlequah. Mentoring relationships are guided by best practices in communication, aligning expectations, equity and inclusion, fostering independence, and professional development. Mentors can receive training through the Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence.

C-REP Cancer Research Methods Training Series

The C-REP is currently developing a Cancer Research Methods Training Series, which will include various in-person and web-based lectures, workshops, and short courses on specific research methods to support tobacco and cancer health equity research across institutions.

C-REP Community Outreach

Reducing Cancer Burden in American Indian Communities Lecture Series (RAISE)

Through seminars, we will increase awareness and knowledge among SCC investigators and OUHSC students of the significance of American Indian cancer health equity and appropriate approaches to conduct cancer health equity research in partnership with Cherokee Nation. Tobacco- and cancer-related seminars and workshops hosted at OSU will aim to raise awareness, knowledge, and understanding of research and cancer-related concepts, research processes, and approaches among undergraduate, graduate and professional students at OSU. Additional focus will be on disseminating information about cancer-related career opportunities for OSU students. The resulting RAISE, focused on tobacco-related cancer equity research, will include six seminars per year, two hosted at each site of the C-REP Collaborative (SCC, OSU and Cherokee Nation) with Zoom video connections to the other two sites.

Cherokee Nation Outreach and Engagement Series: Resilience against Cancer (CN-RAC)

We will collaborate with Cherokee Nation personnel to develop a 4-part series focused on American Indian cancer health equity and approaches to improving health outcomes through research and education. This short course series, Cherokee Nation Outreach and Engagement Series: Resilience against Cancer (CN-RAC), will be delivered at Cherokee Nation. The objective of this series will be to educate community members and health personnel at Cherokee Nation about cancer epidemiology and cancer burden in Cherokee Nation; cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes; tobacco-associated risk; and cancer research methods. A unique opportunity for student- and community-focused outreach exists with the tribally-affiliated osteopathic medical school in Tahlequah, OK, the location of the tribe’s headquarters, hospital, and public health department.

Cancer in Oklahoma Data Brief Series

Led my Mark Doescher, the intent of these is to provide the public, policy makers, researchers, and clinicians with educational white papers on selected cancer topics.

Cancer in Oklahoma Data Brief:

https://www.ouhealth.com/stephenson-cancer-center/community-outreach-and-engagement/cancer-data-in-oklahoma/