The Statistics functional group is integral to the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of trials. Statistics is a core part of any clinical research study and the MRC CTU at UCL has a dedicated team of about 40 statisticians working on our trials, as well as developing new clinical trial methodologies. 

Clinical trial statisticians are typically involved in all steps of the clinical trial process, including developing the research idea into a trial design, performing the sample size calculations, helping design the case report forms and database systems, as well as performing analyses before interpreting and reporting the results. 

A number of our statisticians also work on clinical trial methodology, which involves developing new statistical methods for the design and analysis of trials. Sometimes this involves writing statistical software to enable others to use the new methods we develop. Sometimes we write software for methods already developed by others. 

Ruth Goodall - Statistics Functional Group Lead