METHODOLOGICAL ADVICE
INiBICA has a methodological and statistical support service that is currently outsourced, but which provides its researchers with an Team of biostatisticians, biologists, mathematicians, and physicists with extensive knowledge and experience in advanced statistical consulting at any stage of biomedical study and research:
- Optimal experimental design (sample size estimation, etc.).
- Review and debugging of databases.
- Data processing and analysis using the most appropriate statistical methodology to provide solutions for each objective set.
- Preparation of scientific and technical reports.
- Support in interpreting the results obtained.
Similarly, this methodological advisory service supports INiBICA researchers in making their Projects reports more competitive for submission to regional and national calls for proposals. It focuses particularly on reviewing the methodology, design, and statistical analysis sections, as well as providing suggestions on the form and structure of other sections (summary, Team, background, bibliography, hypotheses, objectives, and materials and methods).
In addition, protocols and research articles are reviewed, particularly in terms of methodology and statistical analysis, and responses are provided to journal editors and reviewers on all matters related to the statistical aspects of the work carried out by his Team.
PROTOCOL
Research studies or statistical inquiries.
If researchers are interested in requesting methodological advice, they must follow these steps:
1) Inform your manager in advance of the need for the service: lourdes.rodriguez@inibica.eu / diana.regueiro@inibica.eu
- This form consists of the following parts:
- Contact details for Responsible researcher.
- Objective of the study.
- Hypotheses that are raised and to which answers are sought.
- Study variables involved in the problem to be solved.
- Details of what is requested.
3) Send the form and Documentation deemed appropriate (database, protocol, reference articles, etc.) to INiBICA management staff, who will forward the request to the head of the methodological advisory service.
4) The methodological advisory service will contact the Responsible researcher to begin the work or agree on an approximate start and end date.
5) Throughout the study, communication may be established between the researcher and the methodological advisory Team in order to resolve any queries and determine the work to be carried out. INiBICA management staff must always be copied in on all communications to facilitate the monitoring and control of the work.
The standard turnaround time for research projects is 3-4 weeks from the date of request (report delivery). These deadlines vary depending on INiBICA's priorities, the number of previous requests and Projects , and the complexity and scope of the work requested.
INiBICA PRIORITIES
- Review of reports on upcoming calls for proposals, particularly Projects the Andalusian Regional Government's Department of Health and Projects ISCIII.
- Response to editors and/or reviewers of Publications of work carried out by the methodological advisory service.
- Work that results in Publications and/or doctoral theses.
- Studies to be presented in conference papers.
Other types of requests must be assessed and prioritized based on the number of requests and Projects progress.
REVIEW OF R&D&I REPORTS
For each call for proposals, INiBICA will inform researchers of the deadlines for the online submission of their Projects. It will also indicate the deadlines for requesting the methodological and statistical review service.
To do so, researchers must submit their report in the format specified for each call for proposals. The report should be as complete as possible. Submitting the report well before the deadline will allow for a more thorough review of the report and a more detailed assessment of the project to be presented. It will also allow for support to be provided to address specific statistical needs that pose limitations to be resolved.
The order of priority for reviewing reports will be based on the date of receipt of the application and Documentation.
DATA PROTECTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
All information and data provided to the methodological advisory service are subject to complete confidentiality for an indefinite period, as defined in the current contract between INiBICA and the methodological advisory service.
Data protection regulations will be strictly followed. Therefore, any document or database containing sensitive data (patient names, etc.) will be immediately deleted and erased (email, attachments, and copies). The researcher must resend all Documentation databases after deleting such confidential information.