LDC FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ACTIVE STAFF (RAS) NETWORKS
APPLICATION FORM 2014-2015
PART A
Details:
Name: Thomas Hamborg
Job Title: Research Associate
Staff No: 0970431
Department/Centre/Unit/Faculty: Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School
Departmental Administrator (name): Jackie Brittain
Name: Siew Wan Hee
Job Title: Research Fellow
Staff No: 1072747
Department/Centre/Unit/Faculty: Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School
Departmental Administrator (name): Jackie Brittain
Purpose / Objective of the Research Staff Network:
The Medical Statistics Book & Journal Club was set up in 2012-2013 and this will be the third year we
are running a series of meetings to discuss books, journals and topical issues. The club serves as a
platform, primarily for medical statisticians but also other quantitative researchers in health related
sciences, to keep up to date with new guidelines and methodology works in medical statistics.
Details of the Skills/ Development Activity(ies) (Max 500 words):
Based on last year’s meetings and suggestions, we intend to continue with the current format of
discussing seminal or new books and articles on medical statistics and also to discuss methodological
issues raised by colleagues which arose in their work. Briefly, the format of each of the discussion:

Book discussion: Each of us will choose at least one chapter to read before the meeting. In
the meeting we will present the chapter(s) that we have read (between 15-20 minutes). After all
presentations there will be a discussion.

Journal discussion: Everyone is encouraged to read the article before the meeting. The
person who has recommended the article will lead the discussion of the article.
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014

Topical discussion: A member posts a question a month before the meeting with
supplemental material that will help understanding the question and possible solutions. The member
will present the topic at the meeting. Other club members are encouraged to comment, improve or
suggest alternative solutions.
Date of your activity/event(s), if known:
14 Oct 2014: Chapters 2-4 of Collett, D. (2003). Modelling survival data in medical research (2nd
ed.) 12 Nov 2014: Chapters 5-7 of Collett, D. (2003). Modelling survival data in medical research
(2nd ed.) 25 Nov 2014: Chapters 8-11 of Collett, D. (2003). Modelling survival data in medical
research (2nd ed.)
We intend to hold monthly meetings after the Christmas break. Other topics to be covered:
Questionnaire designs and analyses (e.g. RASCH model, validity, reliability)
Topical discussion
Diagnostic testing
If you have a website, please give the URL:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/research/hscience/stats/seminarseries20123/bookjournalclub/
Please state which events will be open to other University of Warwick Research Active staff or if
relevant to a specific facility or department.
All research staff with an interest in medical statistics are always welcome to attend.
Is this a new network or existing network?
New / Existing
Scope/ Evaluation / Impact of activity(ies) proposed
(Please give us an estimate of the numbers of staff who will be involved and an indication of how you will measure the impact of the
activity/activities. If you intend to follow up the activity by disseminating information, or using the outcomes to support other staff
development activities, please also let us know this)
We expect an average of 13 attendees; made up of statisticians, health economists and staff who are
interested in quantitative research. We did a survey at the end of 2013/14 and we found that to be
very useful especially in planning books and articles for the next academic year. Therefore, we plan to
conduct a short survey again to measure their satisfaction with the club as well as to obtain
suggestions for and comments on topics to be covered in the following year.
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
How do you plan to let Research Active Staff know about your events/meetings (LDC RAS website
or RAS e-newsletter can be used)?
The dates, times and venues along with the books, articles and topics that we are covering will be
put up on a section of the Statistics and Epidemiology Unit website (see above for address). We also
advertise the club in the LDC monthly newsletter. We also plan to advertise the club (PowerPoint
flyer) to colleagues from other departments whom we know work in the area of statistics or with an
interest in medical statistics (e.g. Department of Statistics, WBS).
How do you plan to share the learning / best pr actice with other
University of Warwick Research Staff Networks? We will post a short
summary after each book/journal article discussion. This will be posted
on the club website.
What is the benefit of your activity/activities to:

The University

Your department/organisation

Research agenda
We will invite colleagues who are experts in a particular area to lead the meetings and thus
promote an exciting platform where we can exchange ideas. Despite working in the same research
area many of the club attendees do not regularly meet each other. By having a regular meeting we
will have more “face time” which might help to facilitate collaboration in general and in particular
research subjects discussed in the club. The club will offer an environment for researchers to discuss,
debate and learn from their peers. For early career researchers the club provides educational
training where they can engage with senior researchers acting in a mentoring role and where they
can improve their presentation skills in a friendly environment.
Total amount of funding
requested: £ 1,049.35
Breakdown of funding requested (approximate):
£ 649.35 [13 portions of traditional sandwich lunch (£5.25 each) + 1L of water + 1L of fruit juice for
9
meetings].
£ 200.00 [paper copies of books to be discussed]
£ 200.00 [e-copies of books to be discussed]
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
Date: 13/10/2014
*Signature of Applicant:
Head of Department’s signature:
Head of Department: Professor Aileen Clarke
(please print)
**Signed:
Date: 14th October 2014 .
Please send your completed form either in hard copy or electronically to Sandy Sparks
(Sandy.Sparks@warwick.ac.uk) in the Learning and Development Centre, University House.
If you have any queries, please contact Sandy to discuss (either via email at the above address or on
extn 74121).
*You can either sign a hardcopy, scan in your signature or email the application which will be taken as your signature.
**Your HOD can either sign a hardcopy, scan in their signature or send an email to Sandy Sparks stating they
support your application.
For LDC use
Approved by:
Date: ...........................
Amount approved: £ .................................................................................. Budget Code: .......................
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
PART B (sent post event)
Report:
Funding awards are conditional upon a report being produced after the event or activity which
reflects on the value and impact of the activity in order to share best practice. We ask you to do this
by completing Part B of this form within 2 weeks of the event or by 31 July 2015 for a series of
events. (Please note that funding may be retracted where reports are not produced).
Please tell us:
>
How you felt the event/activity went:
>
How many research staff were involved in
a) the organisational
process: and
b) presenting at the event itself:
>
How it has contributed to the Department/ University/ Research Agenda:
>
What has been learnt:
>
What would be done differently next time:
>
Impact/results/benefits:
>
Budget (provide breakdown of amounts spent):
£
£
£
*Signature of Applicant:
Date: .........................................
Please send your completed report either in hard copy or electronically to Sandy Sparks
(Sandy.Sparks@warwick.ac.uk) in the Learning and Development Centre, University House.
*You can either sign a hardcopy, scan in your signature or email the report which will be taken as your signature.
For LDC use
Report received (date):
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Amount spent: £ ......................................
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014