MedStar Center for Biostatistics, Informatics, and Data Science (CBIDS)

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Leveraging technology and the power of data to advance health through research

The MedStar Center for Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science (CBIDS) provides expertise in high-quality statistical methods, clinical informatics, data science and health information technology application development. As part of the MedStar Health Research Institute, CBIDS designs, executes, and analyzes epidemiologic studies on behalf of research sponsors and project teams, and offers data science support for intramural and extramural investigators across MedStar Health and the broader scientific community.

Team photo of MedStar Health's Center for Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science team.

Research capabilities

Made up of data scientists, clinician investigators, statisticians, analysts, technologists, developers, and other experts, the CBIDS team has extensive knowledge and experience in data science. The team’s capabilities include:

Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Health outcomes research
Data collection and management
Machine learning
Algorithm development
Health information technology application development
Data science and analysis

CBIDS Team

The Center’s team of experts covers four areas of data science, including biostatistics, clinical informatics, data science, and application development. The team can support research projects of any scope and scale, and will build a team to address each individual project need.

Aaron Zach Hettinger, MD, MS, FACEP, FAMIA

Chief Research Information Officer, MedStar Health Research Institute

Co-Director, Center for Biostatistics, Informatics, and Data Science (CBIDS)
Nawar Shara, PhD

Chief, Research Data Science, MedStar Health Research Institute

Co-Director, Center for Biostatistics, Informatics, and Data Science (CBIDS)

Biostatistics Core Team

Our Biostatistics Core provides research consulting and complex statistical analyses for investigators at all stages of the research process. This includes research design and proposal development, sample size and power calculations, statistical analysis, as well as abstract and manuscript partnership. We also offer outcomes services including consulting on model applications and cost-effectiveness.

Clinical Informatics Core Team

Our Clinical Informatics Core offers creation of study specific databases using REDCap and other database tools, as well as data entry and management, knowledge discovery, data archiving, and quality control for data collection and management. The Core also has extensive expertise in cohort discovery and patient-data extraction from electronic medical records.

Data Science Core Team

The Data Science Core offers advanced data science capabilities, including artificial intelligence.

Research Application Development Core Team

The Research Application Development Core includes developers and other technologists who can help scope, build, develop, and test applications. The team has worked with research teams to develop technology solutions for specific interventions as well as consulting clients to build tools that integrate with existing or enterprise-level health information platforms and EHRs.