“Do you have a question about your study design, protocol, or statistical analyses? Fill out a service request or stop by a drop-in session. Our epidemiologists and biostatisticians would be happy to assist you.”

Norma Terrin, PhD
Senior Advisor, BERD Center

Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Center

Quick Links

Consulting Request Link
Drop-In Registration Link
View a table of services (PDF)

Overview

The Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Center is a joint program between Tufts CTSI and the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS). BERD Center is part of the Biomedical and Health Data Science Collaborative. The BERD center supports the full spectrum of translational science from basic science to public health and health delivery by collaborating with clinical, health services, and basic science researchers throughout Tufts University, Tufts Medical Center, and their affiliates.

View a table of services (PDF)

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BERD Center Team

BERD Center team includes statisticians, epidemiologists, and bioinformaticians with scientific staff and faculty appointments at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. The BERD team offers a broad range of expertise in study design, innovative statistical and computational biology methods. They also teach and mentor students in the Clinical and Translational Science Graduate Program within the Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

View our bios and contact information.

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Grant and Protocol Development

BERD Center services include help with:

  • Research questions and specific aims
  • Study design
  • Sample size calculations
  • Statistical analysis plans
  • Data management plans

Assistance with grant proposal and protocol development is offered at no cost to faculty members at Tufts CTSI partner institutions. Please submit a service request to find out more.

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Consulting and Collaborative Research

For post-award services, we work with investigators typically through funded effort on grants.

For help with statistical analysis, we may be able to offer fee-for-service consulting.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions about Statistical Consulting (PDF).

To learn more, please submit a service request.

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Virtual Drop-In Sessions

Free consultations on study design and statistical analysis are available at our Virtual Research Help Drop-in Sessions. The format is a 30-minute Zoom call with one of our statisticians.

These sessions are available to anyone affiliated with Tufts CTSI – including students, research fellows, and residents – and are especially helpful for those needing guidance in carrying out their own analyses.

Currently, Drop-In sessions are offered twice per week. Registration is required. Please view the calendar and sign up here.

Who is eligible?

Some pre-award BERD Center services are offered at no cost to investigators at institutions affiliated with Tufts CTSI; other services (post-award) are offered for a fee and are available to anyone (the rate may vary).

Drop-in Sessions are open to anyone at an institution affiliated with Tufts CTSI, especially faculty members, fellows, residents, and graduate students.

Student projects are not eligible for these free services, but students engaged in faculty-led projects may receive free consultations if the PI is a faculty member at a Tufts CTSI-affiliated organization and the faculty member participates in the consultation.

Contact

To contact us, please submit a service request.

Paola Sebastiani, PhD, Director, BERD Center

Norma Terrin, PhD, Senior Advisor, BERD Center

 

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