Statistics Jobs in Australia:
2014 July - September
Sanjoy Paul, 25 July 2014
PhD Scholarship
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
PhD Projects with Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Topic: Evaluation of the effects of treatment with Chinese Traditional Medicine on glycaemic and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes
International Collaborator: Peking University, China
Project Description:
Treatment of diabetes mellitus with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history of more than 2,000 years in China. Evidence for glucose-lowing effect of TCM is based mainly on animal studies. Large-scale, direct comparison of TCM and well established allopathic glucose lowering drugs in terms of safety and efficacy has been lacking. Recently Prof. Ji and Prof. Paul have published the results of a large phase 3 clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of a TCM (Xiaoke Pill) in treating the patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with well established allopathic glucose lowering drugs (PLoS One 2013; 8(2):e56703). This study found that treatment with Xiaoke Pill led to significant reduction in risk of hypoglycaemia and similar improvements in glycaemic control after 48 weeks compared of treatment to sulfonylurea. This study is considered as the first formal large-scale controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a TCM.
Using the longitudinal data on anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, and Chinese scoring of diabetes symptoms, the broad aims of this Ph. D. project include:
1. Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of TCM in terms of glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes;
2. Comparisons of trajectories of glycaemic and other relevant risk factors over time in patients treated with Xiaoke Pill and Glibenclmide;
3. Comparison of possible changes in the beta-cell functions and associated biomarkers compared between treatments;
4. Development of statistical methods to analyse various levels of Chinese Scoring Systems to evaluate the disease symptoms and improvements post treatment;
5. Assessment and validation of the ability of the traditional Chinese Scoring Systems for the evaluation of disease symptoms and improvements in relation to glycaemic control and overall improvements, in conjunction with the glycaemic control, as measured by Haemoglobin A1c, fasting and post-prandial glucose levels.
Selection criteria:
- BSc or MSc in Statistics or Clinical Epidemiology, with some research experience;
- Interest in clinical research, especially in diabetes and metabolic diseases;
- Strong motivation to conduct independent research in the field of clinical biostatistics;
- Excellent programming knowledge with software, e.g. R & SAS;
- Ability to work independently and take responsibility of a program of work;
- Excellent written communication skills.
Contact:
Interested applicants may contact Professor Sanjoy Paul, Head of the Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and the Principal Investigator in this project. Email: sanjoy.paul@qimrberghofer.edu.au
