Data, Epidemiology, Clinical Trials, & Statistics for Clinical & Population Health Investigation

New addition this year - Clinical Trials course offered!

From Great Ideas to Clear Results (I2R), a 10-month long course starting annually in late-August and running through late-May; it utilizes a mix of didactic and “flipped classroom” sessions and mentored laboratory exercises, with a synchronous and virtual class occurring weekly. Topics covered include epidemiology, study design, data computing, biostatistics, and clinical trials, all at an introductory level. Participants will learn to use Stata to manage and analyze data, and to interpret basic statistical analyses in the clinical literature.

To make the course as engaging and efficacious as possible, learners are expected to attend at least 80% of classes. We hope this will also yield an inspirational cohort effect among the participants.

Target Audience

Dell Med faculty and trainees who could benefit from learning about research design are encouraged to apply. This includes new-to-research faculty, early career faculty, fellows, residents, and exceptional research coordinators and research staff.

Program Schedule

Learners may apply to take Research Methods 1+2 only, Research Methods and Data Computing/Biostatistics, (new this year) a weekly Clinical Trials course, or all three simultaneously: Research Methods/Data Computing & Biostatistics/Clinical Trials. Some out of class readings and work should be accounted for when considering what course(s) one is applying for. Applications for Research Methods and Data Computing/Biostatistics were due June 27; the clinical trials application has been extended to 7/4. If you have any questions about what each course offers after reviewing the curriculum please reach out to Leta Moser.

Learner Access

All course materials are held on Canvas. Accepted learners can expect to be added to Research Methods (and if applicable, Introduction to Data Computing) in August for the fall semester, (if signed up for) and Introduction to Biostatistics with Stata in December for the spring semester. Clinical Trials will be a yearlong course. If you have any trouble accessing Canvas please let Leta Moser know.

Matriculate Costs

This program is generously sponsored by the Health Transformation Research Institute (HTRI) and the Biomedical Data Science Hub. However, matriculates are expected to cover the costs of the necessary class material, including:

(for those participating in research methods)Designing Clinical Research, Fourth Edition -by Dr. Stephen B Hulley MD MPH, Steven R Cummings MD, Warren S Browner MD MPH, Deborah G Grady MD MPH, Thomas B Newman MD MPH ($75). Note: UT libraries do have an electronic copy of this book!

(for those participating in IDC/IBS) A Gentle Introduction to Stata (6th ed) -by Alan C Acock ($65). Note: UT libraries also have an electronic copy of this book!

and

Stata/BE Software ($94, for those participating in IDC/IBS). Note: STATA software is accessible for in person access in the PCL Media lab (currently iMacs, eventually Windows).

(for those participating in Clinical Trials, likely) Fundamentals of Clinical Trials (5th ed) - By Lawrence M. Friedman, Curt D. Furberg, David L. DeMets, David M. Reboussin, Christopher B. Granger (2015) ($40) Note: UT libraries also have an electronic copy of this book!

How to Apply

Application for Research Methods/Introduction to Data Computing & Biostats was due Friday, June 27, 2025. The Clinical Trials application has been extended to 7/4. If you have any questions about what each course offers after reviewing the curriculum please reach out to Leta Moser. Any questions or application issues may be directed to Leta Moser.

Individual applications include:

• your Curriculum vitae

• Department Chair letter committing to ensure that the applicant is free from clinical or other duties during class sessions and (if applicable) accounts for travel time to/from (template here)
• Letter of support from your research mentor indicating mentor's commitment to provide ongoing hands-on mentorship throughout I2R, particularly during the development of RM2 research projects (template here)
• a short description of your anticipated research project. Individual applicants will be notified by late June of the selection committee’s decision.

Program directors who are interested in several of their trainees (residents and/or fellows) participating in I2R are welcome to complete this streamlined application.

Core Program Faculty

Darlene Bhavnani, Ph.D., MPH, is an Assistant Professor and Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, both in the Department of Population Health, and also is serving as an associate course director for I2R's Research Methods series. She also serves as the chief epidemiologist for COVID-19 Contact Tracing at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Bhavnani’s research interests include conducting research on infectious disease transmission, strengthening health and surveillance systems and the design and evaluation of public health interventions.

Alison G. Cahill, M.D., M.S.C.I., is Professor of Women’s Health and the Director of the Dell Medical School Health Transformation Research Institute. She is a perinatologist and clinician-scientist, and is widely recognized for her outcomes-based research which focuses on pregnancy and labor and delivery management and the impact on maternal and child health.

Paul Rathouz, Ph.D., is Professor of Biostatistics in Population Health and Director of the Biomedical Data Science Hub at Dell Med. The Hub is a collaborative resource for data science activity, including both clinical and population health biostatistics and bioinformatics, among other quantitative areas. Dr. Rathouz is a biostatistician by training with collaborative experience in observational and clinical investigation, health services research, developmental psychopathology, and developmental disabilities, among other areas.

Jenny Spencer, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health, and Internal Medicine; additionally she is serving as an associate course director for I2R's Research Methods series. Her research uses econometric and decision science methods to focus on improving equity in cancer screening and prevention. Since joining Dell Medical in 2021, she has expanded her work on HPV vaccination to study inequities in cancer screening and cancer prevention — including cervical, breast and colorectal cancer — by race, ethnicity, income and sexual orientation.

Last updated 7/1/25