Biostatistics

Program Description

Biostatistics is the study of statistical estimation and inference in the context of biology and the health sciences. The domain encompasses a wide range of topics, such as statistical genetics, design and analysis of randomized control trials, modelling time-to-event data. Research in biostatistics is often motivated by particular biomedical questions or applications which raise methodological investigations into a general mathematical or statistical framework of the problem. Thus, biostatistics is a discipline which requires both a solid foundation in inference and asymptotic theory mixed with versatility and interdisciplinary collaborative skills. A sample of areas of interest of the group members includes the following topics:

  •  survival analyses
  •  statistical genetics
  •  causal inference
  •  methodology for longitudinal data

Specific techniques developed or extended in the group include semi- and non-parametric response modelling, data quality in genomic studies, Bayesian techniques for diagnostic testing, g-estimation and inference of dynamic treatment regimes, and high-dimensional propensity scores.

Program Members

2023-24 Course Listings

Fall

Epidemiology: Introduction and Statistical Models

Examples of applications of statistics and probability in epidemiologic research. Sources of epidemiologic data (surveys, experimental and non-experimental studies). Elementary data analysis for single and comparative epidemiologic parameters.

Prof. James A. Hanley

BIOS 601

Institution: McGill University

Advanced Generalized Linear Models

Statistical methods for multinomial outcomes, overdispersion, and continuous and categorical correlated data; approaches to inference (estimating equations, likelihood-based methods, semi-parametric methods); analysis of longitudinal data; theoretical content and applications.

Prof. Shirin Golchi

BIOS 612

Institution: McGill University

Méthodes d’analyse biostatistique

Analyse factorielle avec mesures répétées. Analyse de covariance. Plans croisés. Cas d'un ou plusieurs facteurs. Analyses paramétriques et non paramétriques.

Prof. Janie Coulombe

STT 6510

Institution: Université de Montréal

Winter

Epidemiology: Regression Models

Multivariable regression models for proportions, rates, and their differences/ratios; Conditional logistic regression; Proportional hazards and other parametric/semi-parametric models; unmatched, nested, and self-matched case-control studies; links to Cox's method; Rate ratio estimation when "time-dependent" membership in contrasted categories.

Prof. Robert W. Platt

BIOS 602

Institution: McGill University