Research
Research Interests
My current research interests include design, implementation, and conduct of investigator initiated clinical trials. I was a previous biostatistics trainee at the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop and also participated in 2015 AACR Methods in Cancer Biostatistics Workshop: Clinical Trial Designs for Targeted Agents. I'm specifically interested in adaptive clinical trial designs in oncology, including phase I continual reassessment models, interim monitoring, and mixed designs to monitor both efficacy and toxicity for immunotherapies and molecularly targeted agents.
My dissertation focused on adaptive designs for dose finding clinical trials with ordinal toxicity grading. Aims included developing an extension of the CRM to incorporate ordinal toxicity grading as specified by Common Toxicity Criteria using the proportional odds model, as well as a alternative ordinal continuation ratio model for dose finding designs. I also developed a R library package, ordcrm, for the proportional odds dose finding design, continuation ratio model design, and the original likelihood-based binary CRM. I have also worked on multiple collaborative projects between colleagues at MUSC and the University of South Carolina. I conducted a simulation study in R to evaluate the statistical properties of spatial measures for nutritional accessibility and availability.
Classes
I do not currently teach any courses at Wake Forest, but my previous course offerings from UK are listed below.
CPH 664: Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials
2011-2016 - Fall Semesters (3 credit hours)
This course introduces the fundamental concepts used in the design of clinical trials and statistical methodology associated with trial data analysis. Students learn how to draft selected sections of a protocol that involve biostatistical issues, critically read results of a clinical trial as published in the literature, and understand the public health implications of clinical trials. Example Syllabus
CPH 778: UK Deans' Interprofessional Honors Colloquium
2013-2016 - Fall & Spring Semesters (1 credit hour)
This course in interprofessional education and practice will provide health professions students with an interactive seminar-based forum within which to explore the characteristics and implications of interprofessional practice and community health around transitions of care among children, adults, and elders. Example Syllabus