Biostatistics & Computational Biology Core Advances Pediatric Research Through Collaborative Science

The Biostatistics & Computational Biology (BCB) Core at Children's Mercy Research Institute plays a critical role in advancing pediatric research by providing expertise in study design, biostatistics, bioinformatics and data analysis. Through close collaboration with investigators across specialties, the team helps ensure research studies are methodologically rigorous and positioned to generate meaningful findings that can ultimately improve outcomes for children and families. 

Led by Brooke Fridley, PhD, the BCB Core supports projects from initial concept through publication. The team assists with study design, hypothesis development, sample size estimation, statistical analysis, data visualization and dissemination of findings. By partnering with researchers throughout the research process, the BCB Core enables investigators to focus on clinical questions while leveraging advanced analytical expertise. 

The team also supports increasingly complex research initiatives involving large datasets, genomics and computational biology. In collaboration with the Research Informatics and Data Science team, BCB develops tools that help researchers better analyze and visualize study data, identify patterns and generate new hypotheses. These capabilities are particularly important as pediatric research continues to become more data intensive. 

In addition to project support, the BCB Core invests in workforce development through training programs, workshops and educational opportunities for investigators, fellows and junior faculty. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand its bioinformatics services, including support for whole genome sequencing and single-cell genomics, helping meet the growing analytical needs of translational pediatric research. 

Together, these efforts strengthen Children's Mercy's ability to translate research discoveries into innovations that improve the health and well-being of children.