Essentials of Clinical and Translational Science (ECaTS)

Summary

ECaTS is delivered in two separate Units, Principles of Clinical Epidemiology and Statistics in Clinical and Translational Science, containing approximately 30 hours of instruction in total. Principles of Epidemiology presents basic terminology and methodological concepts in epidemiology from a clinical perspective. Statistics in Clinical and Translational Science introduces statistical methods in various clinical study designs. Coverage of each statistical technique includes identifying what research questions it can address, verifying that assumptions are adequately met, and identifying the limitations of the conclusions. Please see the curriculum tab for a detailed look at the course topics. Registered participants receive course access for one year after their enrollment date.

Learning Objectives

Unit Objectives for Principles of Clinical Epidemiology

• Apply and interpret the results of a variety of epidemiologic methods. This ability should assist students in reading and writing scientific articles and in writing research grant applications.
• Describe the problems and pitfalls encountered in applying epidemiologic methods to real questions. The focus is on the etiology and natural history of complex diseases.
• Articulate that epidemiologic evidence is uncertain and that any epidemiologic finding or observation depends on the methods used.

Unit Objectives for Statistics in Clinical and Translational Science

• Interpret the results of various basic statistical techniques, including exploratory and inferential methods.
• Recognize, define, and differentiate fundamental statistics concepts, such as variability, distribution, association, causation, sampling, experimentation, confidence, and significance.
• Tools to determine appropriate statistical methods for data and study designs.
• A critical perspective with which to assess and defend statistical arguments such as those in scholarly publications.

The ECaTS online self-paced course can be completed in approximately thirty hours. It is delivered through two main units, Principles of Epidemiology and Statistics in Clinical and Translational Science, with several lessons outlined below.

Course Outline:

• Principles of Clinical Epidemiology
  • Introduction and Foundations
  • The Population Survey: Incidence and Prevalence
  • The Population Survey: Time, Place, and Person
  • Bias and Causal Inference
  • Confounding, Mediation, and Interaction: Beyond X and Y
  • The Case-Control Study
  • The Cohort Study
  • The Clinical Trial
• Statistics in Clinical and Translational Science
  • Summary Statistics and Graphing
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Confidence Intervals for Binary
  • Introduction to a Hypothesis
  • Hypotheses Testing for Continuous Outcomes
  • Hypotheses Testing for Categorical Outcomes
  • Graphs for Diagnostic Testing and Survival Data

This course, combined with our FunCaTS offering, is appropriate for learners at any level of interest in clinical and translational science. ECaTS, specifically, expands on the introductory materials from FunCaTS for those interested in advancing their knowledge further.

	Walter A. Rocca, M.D., M.P.H. Consultant, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences Professor of Epidemiology Professor of Neurology Dr. Rocca is a Professor of Epidemiology and Neurology and the Ralph S. and Beverley E. Caulkins Professor of Neurodegenerative Diseases Research at  Mayo Clinic. He has served on several expert panels for the National Institutes of Health and other national and international institutions.
	Felicity T. Enders, Ph.D. Consultant, Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences Professor of Biostatistics Track Program Director, Clinical and Translational Sciences (CTS) MCCCC Deputy Director for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Dr. Felicity Enders is a leader in statistical education for medical researchers at Mayo Clinic and worldwide. She engages in clinical and translational research with nephrology, gastroenterology, and hepatology. In ECaTS, she leads the team in building out the statistics curriculum.
	Travis J. Dockter, M.S. Mr. Travis Dockter earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and statistics in 2010 and a master’s in science degree in applied statistics in 2012, both from North Dakota State University. Mr. Dockter joined the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Statistics section in 2012, where he assists with clinical trials in lymphoma, breast cancer and cancer control/quality of life. Mr. Dockter is also involved with statistical education through the Mayo Graduate School.
	Jeremiah A. Aakre, M.P.H. Mr. Jeremiah Aakre earned bachelor’s degrees in statistics and teaching mathematics from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2006 where he was named Outstanding Graduating Senior in teaching mathematics. Mr. Aakre was hired as a Statistical Programmer Analyst at the Mayo Clinic and while working, earned his Master of Public Health degree in Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota in 2014. He was hired as a Statistician shortly thereafter and earned an appointment as Instructor in Biostatistics in 2017. Mr. Aakre collaborates in research surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and is involved with statistical education through the Mayo Graduate School.