Activities and services
We support researchers, projects and students in the areas of bioinformatics and biostatistics.
Mentorship program
A main part of CBB:s services is our mentorship program. Here, we pair researchers in need of bioinformatical or biostatistical support with a mentor in the respective area. The role of the mentor is to be a discussion partner and help the mentee to decide which analyses that are most suitable, how to perform them, and how to interpret the findings. The mentor will not perform the actual analyses but rather serve as a quality controller to ensure the project is using the best available methods to answer the specific research question. If you are requiring consultation services where an expert is analyzing your data independently, we can instead refer you to relevant services at KI that perform such work.
For optimal use, we suggest that the mentee has some experience in the field and knows the basics of the methods (e.g. simple coding in R, STATA or other relevant software). The mentor can assist projects in the planning phase (e.g. study design, power calculation) or in the analysis phase.
Each project is unique, but in general we recommend that the mentor and mentee meet at regular intervals, e.g. once per week. When initializing a mentorship program, CBB and the PI of the project will agree on the time needed for completion. This may be prolonged depending on needs. The fee for the CBB mentorship program is 1100 SEK/h for the work involved for the mentor. CBB suggests that ICMJE:s guidelines on co-authorship is followed.
Some of the tasks of the mentor may include:
- Discussion on which method to use for a specific research question and data set
- Practical examples of coding
- Interpretation of data output
- Limitations of the used methods
Up to three hours free consultation
CBB offers a free consultation up to three hours as part of the Clinicum network. Fill out this form to request help.
If additional help is needed, we recommend our mentor programme described above.
The consultation can include discussions with researchers about questions and ideas around research projects at the idea stage or planning stage. We give advice on experimental design aspects including cohort samples sizes and related statistical power analyses as well as on the bioinformatics or biostatistics personnel required for the planned study. Such support will be helpful for designing studies and for improving the success rate of grant applications.
Drop-in service Thursdays 13:00-15:00
CBB provides a drop-in for researchers in need of bioinformatic or biostatistic support. The drop-in is open Thursdays, 13:00-15:00 in NEO building at Blickagången 16 in room Protein. Mentors and experts from CBB will be present for discussions.
Education
CBB seminars
The CBB seminar series are held in the building Neo in Flemingsberg and in Zoom (link to seminars, passcode: 854399).
Time: 12:15 - 13:00
Before the seminar, a limited number of sandwiches and drinks will be served on a “First come – first served” basis starting 12:00. Show up early and network!Seminar schedule below.
Please see the KI Calendar for upcoming CBB seminars.
Below is an example of what is discussed at the CBB seminars, a guide to creating a research plan.
Workshops and courses
We also organise frequent workshops and courses on master’s and doctoral levels. The topics are chosen based on the needs expressed by the research groups at Campus Flemingsberg. The workshops and courses are usually more hands on than the seminars.
Support recruitments
The centre matches the unmet needs regarding bioinformatics and biostatistics expressed by the research groups with the available analysis resources at Campus Flemingsberg. This way, overcapacities in one group might be made accessible to research groups in need of these capacities together with corresponding financial compensation by the receiving group. In cases where there are unmet demands, a group might consider recruiting personnel. Alternatively, two groups can consider to jointly employ and share personnel. The centre provides support by helping to write open calls, by screening applications and with interviews.
Communication through Slack
You can also get in touch with CBB through the app Slack. You can find more info on how to download apps at KI IT webpages. When you have downloaded the Slack app ask to join the Slack workspace "CBB Campus Flemingsberg".