The Department of Information Sciences (DIS), consisting of the Divisions of Biostatistics, Research Informatics, and Clinical Research Information Support collaborates in numerous facets of both clinical and basic science research throughout the Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, including study design, data quality and training, and computational statistical analysis.

Major activities include collaborations in clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological research; development of statistical methodologies; and teaching in the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences of City of Hope and in the Clinical Investigation Training Program (CITP); development of innovative information systems for research. The faculty members within the department participate as co-investigators on City of Hope grants, in addition to conducting their own research.

Our Vision
To convert raw data into information leading to new knowledge, to help speed biomedical discoveries, disease prevention, and therapeutic interventions.

Our Mission
To contribute to City of Hope’s mission and strategic plan through the development and application of research information science methods and technologies, by:        

• Supporting information management, integration, and synthesis across the translational research pipeline
• Collaborating in the design, computerization, analysis and reporting of basic, translational, clinical, and population research
• Facilitating the collection and delivery of accurate, complete electronic data for disease registries
• Ensuring high quality results by applying best practices and international standards    

Division of Biostatistics
The Division of Biostatistics houses faculty and staff statisticians.  Their major activities include: collaboration in basic, translational and clinical research; consulting on statistical questions in research; development of statistical methodology, teaching in the COH Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences and in the Clinical Investigation Training Program.  The division operates the Cancer Center’s Biostatistics Core, and supports coordinating centers for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, The NCRR Islet Cell Resource Centers and the California Cancer Consortium.

Division of Clinical Research Information Support
The Division of Clinical Research Information Support (CRIS) provides expertise in  training and continuing education of clinical research staff, data quality assurance,  data collection for observational databases, quality assurance, multi-center coordination for treatment and observational protocols, data collection for disease registries and transplant procedures at City of Hope, cancer registry, data entry, and Clinical Trials Online^SM (CTOL). The Division operates the protocol data managment component of the Cancer Center’s Clinical Protocol & Data Management Core (CPDMC).

Division of Research Informatics
The Division of Research Informatics (RI) includes systems analysts, application developers/ software engineers, database administrators/architects,  Electronic Data Capture/TeleForms group, and decision support services. The staff within RI is specially trained to focus on the information systems requirements unique to the research domain.  RI combines the administrative and clinical care data collected during the normal course of patient care with protocol-specific data collected for research purposes and makes it available for use in outcome assessment and analysis. The Division also operates the clinical research informatics component of the Cancer Center’s Clinical Protocol & Data Management Core (CPDMC).

Through the Biostatistics and Clinical Protocol & Data Management Cores, DIS faculty and staff follow NCI guidelines to provide support to Cancer Center members and City of Hope investigators.

Joyce Niland, Ph.D.
Chair & Professor
jniland@coh.org
626-256-HOPE (4673)
Ext. 63032
Fax: 626-301-8802


Please feel free to contact our Department by emailing us at DIS_Help@coh.org, regarding any projects requiring support, or if you have any questions.