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Abstract:
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In the course of the conduct of translational research, bench scientists collaborating in projects involving clinical populations may be confronted with instances where rigorously controlled conditions may no longer be completely attainable. In such situations, attempts to familiarize researchers with statistical approaches to adjust for covariates, as well as various design approaches to address sources of variability, can be very fruitful. Teaching concepts related to design, especially those related to sample size and statistical power, are generally helpful to diverse types of investigators. It is important to emphasize such factors as drop-out, noncompliance, and the need to recruit difficult-to-obtain patient samples. Other complexities beyond the conventional reductionism model include phenotypes which can evolve over time, or subtle drifts in clinical observation.
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