Overview

The Biostatistics Department of the CING leads the development and application of advanced statistical methods in biomedical and health sciences research. The Department’s mission is to promote the rigorous and innovative use of statistical methods, ensuring that quantitative reasoning is fully integrated throughout all stages of scientific research. By combining methodological research, applied data analysis, and education, the Biostatistics Department contributes to the advancement of high-quality, reproducible, and translational research across the institute.

Mission and Activities

The Biostatistics Department provides comprehensive statistical support throughout the full lifecycle of biomedical research projects, including study design and experimental planning, sample size determination and statistical power calculations, selection, implementation, and interpretation of appropriate statistical analyses and support for data integration, reporting, and reproducibility. Adopting a collaborative approach, the department works closely with investigators and researchers to deliver solutions tailored to the biological, clinical, and epidemiological context of each project.

Research Areas

The Department’s research focuses on the development and application of advanced statistical methods to address complex biological and health-related questions. Key areas of expertise include:

Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology 
Analysis of common and rare genetic variation using Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and sequencing data. Development and application of statistical methods for variant analysis. Fine-mapping of loci identified through genome-wide scans. Classification of Variants of Uncertain Clinical Significance (VUS), with particular emphasis on high-risk disease genes.

Additional Areas of Interest
•    Epidemiology and population-based studies
•    Biomarker discovery and validation
•    Survival and event-time analysis
•    Bayesian statistical methods
•    Forensic statistics
 

Education and Training

The Biostatistics Department is actively involved in the academic and teaching mission of the CING, supervising MSc and PhD students, providing advanced training in biostatistics, statistical genetics, and quantitative biomedical research.