Genetic epidemiology is a quickly developing field of scientific research which owes its multidisciplinary interactions between physicians, molecular biologists and genetic statisticians. Though the importance of genetic epidemiology has been widely recognized, only very few training opportunities have been established in Germany in past. In contrast to other European countries, no formalized genetic epidemiology education has been implemented. However, a basic training of genetic epidemiological methods is extremely desirable even for medically and laboratory orientated scientists. Furthermore, theoretically orientated scientists usually do not become acquainted with genetic epidemiological concepts during their basic training. There is therefore a strong demand by both groups of scientists for training opportunities that transpire basic ideas and new developments in genetic epidemiology, depending upon individual needs and abilities.
Only a few introductory text books for acquiring basic knowledge in genetic epidemiology have been published which mostly cover the area only incompletely. Training and education in genetic epidemiology without lectures will be described in another progress report for this project, since this project component is headed by the GEM Lübeck (A. Ziegler). Though some text books and papers on statistical consulting have been published recently, nothing comparable is available for genetic epidemiology. However, an interdisciplinary approach involving teams of experts in the fields of medicine, molecular biology and statistics/epidemiology is fundamental to the success of medical research and to medical genetics in particular. Almost every stage of a scientific study is characterized by the joint responsibility of all disciplines involved. A key to success is therefore communication, co-operation and understanding of the different backgrounds but, unfortunately, communication and effective co-operation are mostly left as something to “pick up later” in classical academic training.
Results/Project Status
We are offering workshops and seminars in statistical consulting and research cooperation that are open to scientists and research fellows in the fields of mathematics and statistics on the one hand and medicine, molecular biology and other related fields of study on the other.
The primary focus is not on statistical and scientific methodologies in statistical genetics but on teaching from the bottom up. After gaining a firm grasp of the basics, participants from all levels of study will be taught the necessary theory, and language and technical terminology required to fully understand the concepts of all integrated disciplines in the fields of genetics, genetic statistics and genetic epidemiology.
This will be embedded in consulting topics. For the following consulting topics training materials have been prepared:
- International Standards - Ethics
- Data Management, Documentation
- Data Protection
- Paper Reading and Writing
- Evidence Based Medicine
A first workshop run will be carried out within two small groups of 15 doctoral students from a wide variety of disciplines within smaller research networks than NGFN.
The workshop is separated into two parts in order to allow participants to apply their newly gained insights to their projects and come with more questions and in depth knowledge to the second part.
The two parts are:
- Part I: Descriptive Statistics and Estimation, Issues in Study planning
- Part II: Statistical Tests and Models, Issues in Evidence Based Medicine
The programme for part I is:
- Study Types
- Descriptive Statistics
- Probability, Distributions
- International Standards – Ethics
- Estimators, Confidence Intervals
- Statistical Tests (incl. Power)
- Data Management, Documentation
- Data Protection
A complete first version of materials for Part I is available and will yet be revised until the date of the test run. This is October 15th and 16th. The announcement for the two small test groups has been made.
The workshop is less theory-orientated but will apply theory to the actual needs of participants. Therefore, the workshops will flexibly focus upon problems or questions of the participants whenever possible. Our central aim is to promote and improve interdisciplinary collaboration and communication within the NGFN, and to provide further education and training to both scientists and research fellows.
The workshop is designed around the disciplines genetics, genetic statistics and genetic epidemiology. That means study types are addressing e.g. linkage and association analysis. Descriptive Statistics addresses the issues of genotype and allele distributions. Probability and Distributions are addressing issues such as Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, International Standards and Ethics are addressing the special issues of sampling in families, large-scale genotyping and DNA-banking, etc.
Parallel to these developments (and outside of this grant) progress on further training materials in genetic epidemiology has been made. The lecture series on genetic epidemiology by H. Bickeböller and C. Fischer has been revised for a course on genetic epidemiology in Heidelberg, June 2005. These revisions have brought direct input into some chapters for the Springer book “Einführung in die Genetische Epidemiologie” by H. Bickeböller, C. Fischer. In particular the focus of this book is also on an interdisciplinary readership.
Outlook
Until 12/06 we will develop the second part of our workshop:
Part II: Statistical Tests and Models, Issues in Evidence Based Medicine. The topics for part II include
- comparing groups
- statistical tests II
- evidence based medicine
- regression, correlation
- survival analysis, prognostic factors
- paper reading and writing
Until 03/2006 we will revise both parts of our workshop based on our first run experience. The purpose of this pre-testing is to gain valuable insights for the more dispersed NGFN group and thus run an already improved workshop within NGFN until 03/2006.
