Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC)

Collaborative Model & Rates Request Services or Assistance

About

Who We Are

  • Overview:
    • We are the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), a Service Center housed in BU’s School of Public Health (BUSPH) since 1984, now under the umbrella of the Center for Health Data Science.
  • Our Goal:
    • We are dedicated to providing centralized research services that support academic investigators, as well as collaborators from government and industry sectors.
  • Our Leadership:

What We Offer

  • Cost-Effective Solutions: We offer a wide array of services that are designed to be budget-friendly, enabling you to maximize your research funding.
  • Optimized Resources: We provide targeted training and access to essential resources to help researchers effectively utilize data and tools for their projects.
  • Expert Support: Our team provides comprehensive assistance throughout every phase of the project life cycle, ensuring that our services align closely with the specific needs and scope of your work.

Expert Support

Technical Skills:

  • Data Management and Analysis
  • Application Development
  • Research Design Consultation
  • Project Planning
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Grant Development
  • Training Workshops
  • Technical Support
  • Collaboration Facilitation
 Data Resource Knowledge:

  • Secure Research Cloud Environment
  • CMS Medicaid, Medicare, and T-MSIS
  • CHIA APCD Administrative Data
  • All of Us Research Program
  • American Community Survey (ACS)
  • Data Axle
  • OptumLabs Data Warehouse
  • EPIC/EHR Databases
  • Market Scan
 Public Health Expertise:

  • Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders
  • Alzheimer’s disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Neuropathological Disorders
  • Health, Well-Being, and Social Determinants of Health
  • Infectious Disease
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Veteran’s Health

Benefits of Collaboration

  • Experienced Team: Our staff consists of trained professionals with a wealth of experience, committed to delivering tailored project support.
  • Flexibility: We provide the support you need, when you need it, and lessen the burden of training, managing, and maintaining funding for research staff, allowing you to concentrate on your research goals.
  • Consistency and Quality: We leverage standard operating procedures in alignment with university and industry best practices to ensure consistency and quality in the work we do.

Collaborative Model & Rates

We offer a transparent and flexible model to ensure that projects are completed both efficiently and effectively. The guidelines below are based on several key factors including: the nature of the project, funding sources, client needs, and the specific resources being utilized.

FTE Option

Generally used for:

  • Large-scale projects that require consistent resources.
  • Grant-funded studies: FTEs are generally the preferred approach for most grant proposals
  • Dedicated resources: for projects that need ongoing support from a dedicated analyst or team.
  • Complex, multifaceted projects: for projects that involve substantial data management and/or statistical analyses over time.

Hourly Rate Option

Generally used for:

  • Short-term projects: limited in scope and requiring assistance for a relatively short period.
  • Consulting and advisory services: clients are seeking expert advice, troubleshooting, or other short-term guidance.
  • Small, specific tasks: for discrete data tasks, such as cleaning datasets, running particular analyses, or generating reports.
  • On-demand support: projects require only occasional support without a long-term commitment.

How Can We Support You?

At the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), we are committed to facilitating research, fostering collaboration, and leveraging the resources and expertise available across BU, BU SPH, and BUMC IT. BEDAC relies on the expertise and synergistic collaboration among trained technical staff and leverages existing relationships with faculty members and technical experts across various Boston University schools and departments to provide services that span the life of a research project. We offer comprehensive support for data management, processing, and analysis to ensure success in reaching your research goals.

We’re here to help you:

  • Collaborate or Request Services: Ready to partner with us or request specific services for your project?
    Matthew Bullard, Senior Project Manager, Business Development (mbullard@bu.edu)
  • Learn More About BEDAC: Want to explore how our tools and expertise can support your research?
    Joseph Palmisano, Senior Director, Center Operations (jpalm@bu.edu)
  • Data Collection/Management/Analytics Support: Have technical questions about data workflows, programming, or analysis?
    Emily Sisson, Senior Director, Research Operations (eq@bu.edu)
  • Discover Available Data Sources: Need help understanding, accessing, or navigating data sources? We can assist with data processing and resource guidance.
    Nina Cesare, Research Scientist (ncesare@bu.edu)
  • Invoicing and Billing: Questions about costs or billing?
    Joanne Cipriani, Director, Finance and Administration (cipriani@bu.edu)

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 2 business days during regular hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.