Applications are invited for two Cancer Research UK funded DPhil Studentships to work within the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) Secretariat at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Population Health. These posts provide an opportunity for those with a good degree in a mathematical/science subject or medicine to develop their research skills within one of the world’s leading medical research units. We would welcome applications from people with an interest in the design and analysis of clinical trials and the application of statistics to improving treatment of breast cancer and other diseases.
The two proposed topics are:
More reliable than the results of a single randomised trial is the synthesis of all available randomised evidence in a pooled meta-analysis. These can either use the results as published (published data meta-analysis) or collect individual patient data (IPD) from all trials in a collaborative meta-analysis, such as those undertaken by the EBCTCG. This project will look at the relative advantages of the two approaches, using the EBCTCG database of over 650,000 women in randomised trials of breast cancer treatment. Different approaches to combining data will be explored, as will the most relevant endpoints for these analyses, in particular the potential hazards of using composite endpoints, such as disease free survival, which combine a number of different and competing outcomes.
For informal discussions regarding this project, please contact either Robert Hills (Robert.Hills@ndph.ox.ac.uk) or Richard Gray (Richard.Gray@ndph.ox.ac.uk)
2) Predictive and prognostic factors in early breast cancer and long-term side-effects of therapy
Breast cancer has a long natural history with a substantial risk of recurrence continuing for at least 20 years after diagnosis. Chemotherapy and, in oestrogen-receptor-positive early breast cancer, long-term endocrine therapy substantially reduce breast cancer recurrence and mortality but can cause potentially life-threatening side-effects. Using the EBCTCG database of patients in randomised trials and other large-scale database, this project will investigate how patient and tumour characteristics impact on the risks and benefits of various therapies for early breast cancer. Because different databases, and different trials collect data differently, the project will explore the validity of possible methods of data analysis, so that information generated is relevant and applicable to women with breast cancer and their clinical teams.
For informal discussions regarding this project, please contact either Robert Hills (Robert.Hills@ndph.ox.ac.uk) or Hongchao Pan (Hongchao.Pan@ndph.ox.ac.uk)
About EBCTCG
Since 1985, EBCTCG has conducted large-scale individual patient level meta-analyses of local and systemic treatments for early breast cancer (see https://www.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/research/ebctcg). The findings, published in high profile journals, have been cited in over 25,000 other publications, and provide the evidence base for most international breast cancer treatment guidelines.
EBCTCG sits within the Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH) which brings together over 500 staff from world leading research groups, with around 100 students on taught Master’s and Doctoral programmes. NDPH conducts large-scale epidemiological studies and clinical trials in China, Mexico, India, Russia, in addition to the UK and other developed countries. These studies provide reliable evidence on the burden, determinants and best treatments of the major causes of premature death and disability. The research has a global span and impact, with collaborations from more than 50 countries, and students and researchers work on several of the world’s largest and most detailed observational epidemiological studies such as UK Biobank, China Kadoorie Biobank and the Million Women Study and collaborative meta-analyses.
The NDPH’s research programmes provide training in all aspects of population health research, from statistics and epidemiology to health economics, health services research, health policy and promotion, and ethics.
Our student-led Research Student Group arranges a wide range of activities outside the day-to-day research work our students undertake, from social events to seminars and journal clubs. Our students are also invited to a wide range of Departmental events and groups, including our Early Career Researchers Network.
We offer students generous allowances for expenses such as attendance at relevant conferences, training courses, and fieldwork.
Applications must be submitted by 12 noon UK time (midday) on Friday 21 August 2020 for consideration to start in October 2020.
See https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/courses-open-for-studentships for further details and how to apply. Please contact our Graduate Studies Office (pgradmin@ndph.ox.ac.uk) if you have any further questions.
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