Develop new methodology for the analysis and reporting of meta-analyses in the presence of Heterogeneity

Applications are invited from graduates with a BSc (First or Upper Second) and MSc (merit/distinction), or equivalent, to work within the Cancer Prevention Group in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at King’s College London. The studentship is available commencing either in October 2020 or January 2021 (for 3-4 years) and will be based at Guy's Campus. This is an exciting opportunity for graduates from disciplines related to epidemiology and statistics. There is no fixed deadline as the position will remain available until a suitable candidate is found. The next round of interviews will be held in mid-August 2020, followed by mid-September 2020.

Applicants may choose from 3 available topics:
(1) Develop new methodology for the analysis and reporting of meta-analyses in the presence of heterogeneity
(2) Indicators of progress towards reducing cancer mortality through early diagnosis
(3) “Txt-netting” – using text messages to safety-net patients with low risk cancer symptoms in GP primary care

Projects (1) and (2) will suit students looking to mix applied and methodological statistics. Project (3) will suit a student with an epidemiological background or a mixed-methods background with strong quantitative skills.

Project 1

Most meta-analyses use random-effects models in the presence of heterogeneity, but many analyses do not consider the likely sources of heterogeneity and their implications. Non-compliance and contamination in trials of cancer screening, and poor adherence to protocol in delivering a complex intervention will tend to attenuate the magnitude of “treatment effects”. If the treatment effect is heterogeneous then one should be interested in what features are associated with larger treatment effects. If we consider each trial to have a random treatment effect, then we should be interested in the proportion of trials (random effects) that are clinically important (e.g. what proportion (with a 95% confidence interval) of screening effects result in at least a 20% reduction in cancer-specific mortality). This is related to tolerance intervals (which are used in engineering but rarely in medical statistics). The student will review the literature regarding random effects meta-analysis and tolerance intervals and derive new methodology to address these questions. The methodology will be applied to RCTs of lung cancer screening and to observation studies of the association between excision of CIN and subsequent pre-term delivery.

Informal enquiries can be made to via email: Caitlin Muller, [Email Address Removed].

How to apply
Your application must be submitted via the King’s online portal https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/. Search for “Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences MPhil/PhD”, and then enter the project title and reference number 2020/CPS/S46 (within the supporting statement section). Please do not send an application via email, applications will only be accepted via the King’s Apply portal.

It should consist of a CV and contact details of two academic referees. Academic transcripts must be submitted with the online admissions application. You must also include a personal statement (1,000 words maximum) describing your suitability for the selected project including how your research experience and interests relate to the project.