The BSR is staffed by members of Ohio State’s Center for Biostatistics in the College of Medicine and the Division of Biostatistics in the College of Public Health.
Population Studies
- Xueliang (Jeff) Pan, PhD: Design of Clinical Trials and Experiment, Linear Mixed Models for Repeated Measures, Survival Analysis, Missing Data, Measurement Agreement, Evaluation of Diagnostic Test, Meta-Analysis, Predictive Modeling
- Juan Peng, MAS: Mixed Models for Longitudinal Data, Group Randomized Designs, Survey Sampling, Mediation Analysis
Phase I/II/III Clinical Trials
- Lai Wei, PhD: Clinical Trial Designs, Adaptive Designs for Clinical Trials, Clinical Trial Oversight and Analysis, Mixed Linear Models, Survival Analysis
- Julie Stephens, MS: Clinical Trial Designs, Missing Data in Clinical Trials
- Vedat Yildiz, MS: Linear and Non-Linear Regression Methods, Mixed-Effects Models
- Marilly Palettas, MPH: Survival Analysis and Cox Regression, Clinical Trial Design, Mixed-Effects Models
- Eric McLaughlin, MS: Linear and Non-Linear Regression Methods, Missing Data, Survival Data Modeling
High Dimensional and Omics Data
- Lianbo Yu, PhD: High-Throughput Genomic Data Analysis, Variance Smoothing and Hierarchical Modeling, Multiple Testing and Error Rate Control Methods, Biomarker Signature Discovery and Validation
- Joseph McElroy, PhD: High-Throughput Genomic Data Analysis, Genetic, GWAS, CNV Analysis
- Xiaokui (Molly) Mo, PhD, MAS: mRNA, miRNA, DNA Methylation, Metabolomics Data Analyses, Basic Science Research Experimental Design (in vitro, in vivo), Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA certified analyst)
- Xiaoli Zhang, PhD, MAS: mRNAs, miRNAs and Proteins, High Dimensional Data Reduction, Data Analysis, Bioassay Experimental Design, Basic Science Laboratory Experiments Design and Data Analysis
- Brett Klamer, MS: Data Visualization and Exploration, R Programming, Regression Modeling
Secondary Data Analysis
- Mohamed I Elsaid, PhD, MPH, ALM: Design and Analysis of Longitudinal and Time-to-event Studies, Causal Inference, Comparative Effectiveness Research, Dynamic Treatment Regimes, Predictive Modeling
Soledad Fernandez, PhD, director, manages and coordinates all services provided to OSUCCC members and establishes unit policies and priorities. Dr. Fernandez is the director of the Center for Biostatistics and distinguished professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine. She is the biostatistics director of one NCI P01 grant and serves as the co-director of the Biostatistics Program in Ohio State’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Dr. Fernandez has 18 years’ experience in collaborating with biomedical investigators on large studies, translational laboratory experiments and statistical genetics. Dr. Fernandez has been a part of the Ohio State community since 2001, serving as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Statistics, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the area of mathematical statistics and regression analysis for the engineering sciences. Prior to joining the university community, Dr. Fernandez received a MS in Statistics in 1998 and a joint PhD in Statistics and Animal Breeding and Genetics in 2001 from Iowa State University. She works in the planning, design and preparation of large programmatic grant and other OSUCCC proposals, and mentors new biostatisticians. She is an expert in statistical genetics, as well as in basic science research support.
Xueliang (Jeff) Pan, PhD, leads the population studies in the Center for Biostatistics. He has strong collaborative relationships with investigators in MCC, ET and the Innate Immunity Programs, and has provided leadership in preparing a P01 in chemoprevention. He supports clinical trial and observational study design for OSUCCC programs and has expertise in image analysis and linear mixed modeling. Dr. Pan is a biostatistical reviewer for the CSRC and a member of the DSMC.
Juan Peng, MS, supports investigators with analysis for longitudinal data and hierarchical modeling. Her expertise is in mixed models, group randomized trials and mediation analysis. She supports investigators in the CC scientific program.
Yevgeniya Gokun, MS, has extensive experience in regression modeling (logistic, linear, Poisson, Cox), propensity score methods in observational studies and longitudinal data analysis using linear mixed-effects models.
Lai Wei, PhD, leads the Clinical Trials Program in the Center for Biostatistics. She has expertise in clinical trial design, implementation, oversight and data analysis. Her work includes re-estimation of sample size for clinical trials and other adaptive clinical trial designs. Dr. Wei serves as a biostatistical reviewer for the CSRC and provides analysis and design support for Phase I/II clinical trials. She works with investigators in the ET, MBCG and IMM programs.
Julie Stephens, MS, provides planning, design and general analysis support and database management for all OSUCCC programs. She also analyzes data for the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System in support of cancer research programs and for public health reports, including the American Cancer Society’s Facts & Figures. She is a biostatistical reviewer of the CSRC.
Vedat Yildiz, MS, has expertise in programming and statistical modeling techniques, mixed linear models and analysis of large population databases. He is a biostatistical reviewer of the CSRC and provides support to all OSUCCC programs.
Songzhu Zhao, MS, collaborates with the Department of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and the Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has particular expertise in regression modeling (linear, logistic, Poisson, negative binomial, Cox), mixed models for longitudinal data and repeated measurements, and large population databases.
Marilly Palettas, MS, collaborates with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), the Department of Anesthesiology, the Department of Medical Oncology-Breast Cancer Research, the Department of Urology and the Neuroscience Research Institute. She has particular expertise in sample size and power calculations, general data analysis (general linear models, mixed-effects models, logistic regression, survival and Cox regression), clinical trial study design, data collection and data management.
Eric McLaughlin, MS, has expertise in linear and non-linear regression methods, handling of missing data and modeling of survival data. He supports investigators in the Division of Hematology.
Lianbo Yu, PhD, leads the High Dimensional Data Program in the Center for Biostatistics. He is an expert in statistical design and analysis of omics experiments and other high dimensional data analysis. Dr. Yu developed several innovative approaches in sample size calculation and statistical analysis of gene expression studies, yielding more reliable and transparent results than those from standard methods. Dr. Yu supports the MBCG, VO and IMM programs.
Joseph McElroy, PhD, holds his PhD in Genetics. His areas of expertise are in analyses of genetics (SNP, haplotype, GxG, GxE) and high dimensional genomic datasets, such as whole genome association studies, copy number variation, genomic sequence analysis (DNA-, RNA-, ChIP-, miR-seq) and RNA expression analysis. He supports investigators in the MBCG and ET programs.
Xiaokui (Molly) Mo, PhD, MAS, holds a doctorate in Biochemistry and a Master of Applied Statistics degree. Her extensive experience in laboratory experimental design and measurement greatly enhances communications with laboratory investigators. She assists laboratory investigators primarily in the OSUCCC – James MBCG, ET and Innate Immunity Programs.
Xiaoli Zhang, PhD, MS, has a strong background in molecular biology and biochemistry, and extensive experience in planning and design of basic science experiments and in data analysis. She skillfully clarifies statistical challenges for investigators preparing grant proposals and greatly enhances communication between investigators and biostatisticians, especially for P01 grants. Dr. Zhang collaborates on planning, design and measurement issues that arise during basic-science investigations primarily in the MBCG, ET and IMM scientific programs. She leads the biostatistics core of the Discovery of Anticancer Agents of Diverse Natural Origin P01 (PI: Dr. Kinghorn).
Mohamed I Elsaid, PhD, MPH, ALM, focuses on developing strategies to prevent and detect gastrointestinal diseases, including liver, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. He has extensive experience in population health sciences, secondary data analysis, and causal inference methods. His research employs the use of large databases, population-based cohorts, nationally representative surveys, and electronic medical records to develop predictive and inference-based statistical models.
Disease Group |
Biostatistical Navigator(s) |
| Breast | Julie Stephens and Marilly Palettas |
| Central Nervous System | Jeff Pan |
| Thoracic | Lai Wei and Sonia Zhao |
| Sarcoma | Xiaoli Zhang |
| Genitourinary | Jeff Pan |
| Thyroid/Neurology | Lai Wei |
| Gastrointestinal | Mohamed Elsaid |
| Melanoma | Xiaoli Zhang |
| Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant | Lai Wei and Eric McLaughlin |
| Myeloma | Xiaoli Zhang |
| Lymphoma | Lai Wei |
| Translational Therapeutics | Julie Stephens |
| Cancer Control | Mohamed Elsaid |
| Cancer Biology | Lianbo Yu |
| Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention | Molly Mo |
| Leukemia Research | Lai Wei |