Data Management & Statistical Services
Statistical and Analytical Services
The HHRI has identified two referral options to connect HHRI and HCMC researchers with short term statistical services when they do not otherwise have access to this resource for their projects. One option is the HHRI's Chronic Disease Research Group (CDRG) and the other is the University of Minnesota's Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center (BDAC). Both option are described below (hourly rates are updated annually.
Chronic Disease Research Group (CDRG)
CDRG can offer statistical support for HCMC faculty or trainees across all clinical areas. Rates depend on the particular needs, requiring either MS-level (approximately $80/hour) or PhD-level (approximately $125/hour) statisticians. Areas of expertise include:
- Study design and data management
- Sample size estimate/power analyses
- Support for statistical section methods for gran applications
- Inferential statistics, survey data and survival analysis
- Generalized linear modeling
- Longitudinal analysis
- Methods for handling confounding
- Mixed effects model
To explore working with CDRG for your statistical and analytical needs, please complete the PDF Request for Statistical Services form and send it to Dave Gilbertson, the co-Director of CDRG, at dgilbertson@cdrg.org.
Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center (BDAC)
BDAC offers biostatistical consulting and analysis at a rate and level of service appropriate to the needs of the researcher. Rates range from a Statistician/Data Base Programmer ($103/hour) to a Faculty Statistician ($125/hour). Services available include:
- Study design consultation and evaluation
- Sample size and power calculation
- Writing statistical analysis section for grant proposals
- Protocol development and review
- Data analysis as specified in the study protocol
- Optimization of data collection methodology
- Tables, graphs, and summarization of analysis results
- Interpretation of analysis results
- Review of statistical analysis and results for manuscripts
- Assistance and writing and reviewing the statistical methods for manuscripts
Additional information regarding BDAC services and how to obtain them can be found here: https://www.ctsi.umn.edu/consultations-and-services/biostatistical-support
Data Management - REDCap
As a service to Hennepin Healthcare researchers, HHRI has partnered with HCMC to manage accounts and provide a secure server to host REDCap, as an onsite resource for managing forms, surveys, and clinical research databases.
How do I request a REDCap account?
For access to REDCap, go to https://is.gd/projrequest
What is REDCap?
REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a free, secure, web-based application. REDCap can provide researchers with a professionally managed, secure, web based, HIPAA compliant environment for building and managing web-based research projects. REDCap was developed by Vanderbilt University and funded by the NIH. REDCap has a fast and flexible set-up for customized data entry forms and surveys, and allows you controlled access to your projets through secure login. To learn more about REDCap and REDCap Survey, demonstration and tutorial videos are currently available on the REDCap Consortium website:
Home page: https://www.project-redcap.org/
Instrutctional videos: https://projectredcap.org/resources/videos/
How does REDCap work?
REDCap provides web-interface to a central database, facilitating tailored data collection for specific projects. REDCap is accessible from any device with an internet connection, so you can run it on an iPad as well as a laptop. When you enter data into REDCap, it runs on a Hennepin Healthcare server, but it is displayed on your local system. It looks and feels as if it is running on your own system, but it isn't. This provides great security because files containing sensitive data never leave the Hennepin Healthcare environment. Under appropriate study and security protocols, you may import data into REDCap as well as export data from REDCap, for statistical analyses via other programs.
Who can access and use REDCap?
REDCap access is available to Hennepin Healthcare faculty and staff and to non-Hennepin Healthcare collaborators. REDCap is open source, so the software is no cost and Hennepin Healthcare has agreed to provide access to secure servers for data storage. However, individual research programs are responsible for setting up and managing project specific REDCap databases.
What security measures will be in place?
REDCap is housed on a secure virtual data center that is access-controlled. Data are encrypted in motion and at rest. REDCap servers are behind Hennepin Healthcare firewalls and protected by intrusion detection systems. All electronic connections to the REDCap environment are encrypted.
How will data be backed up?
The virtual server that houses the database is backed up nightly at 7pm with a copy of the server image retained for 14 days.