Cecilia Lundholm helps researchers find the right methodology expert

Hi Cecilia! Why are you part of the Clinicum Advisory Network?

I am part of the Clinicum network because I see that there is a great need for methodological support and I think that with my experience I can actually help. Of course, I also enjoy meeting all these enthusiastic researchers. A bonus is that I also learn a lot from the scientists I meet.

What does a biostatistician do?

I work as an applied biostatistician, which means that I am involved in all phases of research projects, from idea to scientific publication, with a particular focus on research methodology. In addition to helping with statistical analysis methods, I am often involved in discussing research questions, applications for research grants and ethical approvals, study design, data collection, variables and not least interpretation and publication of results. Biostatisticians can have different roles. At KI, there are also biostatisticians who are involved in developing new methods or evaluating existing methods, and many who do both.

What kind of biostatistics questions can researchers ask you?

In general, you can ask questions about almost anything related to quantitative research methodology. For example, you can ask for advice on study design, help with power calculation, choice of analysis method, how to do a certain type of analysis, how to interpret the results you have obtained or how to answer tricky questions from journal reviewers. 

Often I also need to ask a lot of questions to the researcher who wants advice. My questions are often about the medical field that the study is about, what it is hoped that the results can be used for, about how outcome and exposure variables are measured, what can affect them, etc. The reason I ask all these questions is that it influences the choice of study design, statistical methods and the interpretation of the results.

Most biostatisticians are quite specialized in a particular field. I feel most comfortable answering questions related to epidemiological studies, especially in the fields of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology. Fortunately, we have many biostatisticians in Clinicum's advisory network, which means that we can almost always find someone with the skills needed for your particular research project.

How can researchers best prepare for a consultation with you?

What we can offer at Clinicum is a few hours of consultation. By thinking through your research project in advance and what you would like help with and being as specific as possible in your request for support from Clinicum, we can together make sure that your consultation time is used in a good way. Sometimes it can be helpful to send some background material in advance that I can look through before the meeting to be a little familiar with what your research project is about.