Research Resources
The Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine offers the following resources to researchers: the Pediatric Anesthesia Research Center, dedicated informational technology support, biostatistical support, and research finance.
Pediatric Anesthesia Research Center (PARC)
The Pediatric Anesthesia Research Center (PARC) is a group of research assistants and research nurses committed to supporting the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine’s mission for world-changing research. The PARC team supports more than 100 studies, ranging from retrospective chart reviews to surveys to phase 2/3 drug studies. They work with investigators through all stages of the process from protocol development and submission, to IRB approval, to subject enrollment and data collection, through manuscript preparation. The team has experience managing INDs and conducting studies regulated by the FDA.
PARC is a resource available to any investigator within the department. Access to PARC is achieved through a straightforward application process. Investigators do not have to raise funding to use PARC services.
Information technology (IT) data engineering support for research
Data engineers and scientists within Anesthesia IT support the analytical needs of the department. Their work focusses on both prospective and retrospective clinical research and quality improvement projects. Working closely with other members of Anesthesia IT, such as software engineers and clinical analysts, they support the ever-evolving requests of our principal investigators.
The data engineering team’s projects span from building data pipelines and data warehouses to building dashboards. The scope of their work also includes the building and maintenance of machine learning models, and creation of the Application Program Interfaces (APIs) to serve the predictions to the end user. With the growth of the need for data management and analysis in the Department of Anesthesia, IT has created the Data as a Service platform that allows principal investigators to extract data without knowing how to code. The tech stack consists of SQL, Python, Snowflake, and MicroStrategy.
Biostatistical support for research
Departmental biostatisticians support all statistical aspects of research in the department. They aid in clinical and basic science research studies, including sample size and power calculations for study and protocol design, statistical analysis planning, complex data analysis with creation of tables and figures, and writing statistical methods and results for research reports. Using statistical software, departmental biostatisticians implement a variety of cutting-edge analytical methods, including development and validation of risk models, multivariable regression modeling, time-to-event analysis, longitudinal and repeated measures analysis, machine learning, CART analysis, analysis of synergy, and dose-response curve analysis. The departmental statisticians provide teaching of statistical analysis methods to department members through collaboration, providing lectures, and publishing educational articles, and provide statistical support and consultation for grant applications for the FDA, NIH, DOD, PCORI, Harvard Catalyst, and other agencies.
Research finance
The research finance team in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital maintains a robust research portfolio comprised of federal grants and contracts, and private foundation funding as well as internal funding. The team provides full-service lifecycle grant management for research investigators. It seeks to help researchers find grants, apply for grants, manage grant funding, and assist with tracking reporting requirements.
The research finance team helps investigators find grant opportunities appropriate to their research interests. For seasoned researchers, the team helps manage finances and regulatory requirements for complex research grant portfolios. It works to link department researchers to needed resources by working closely with the hospital’s central Research Finance Department, Office of Sponsored Programs, Clinical Trials Management Office, Technology Innovation and Development Office, Procurement Office, and Office of the General Counsel.
The research finance team may be reached at: AnesthesiaResearchAdmin@childrens.harvard.edu
