Objectives
The Application and Implementation of Methodologies in Statistics (AIMS) Special Interest Group (SIG) objective is to support PSI Committees and PSI/EFSPI Special Interest Groups (SIGs) with the technological application
and implementation of statistics. To develop understanding of new analytical tools and approaches to share with PSI & EFSPI members via appropriate forums. To ensure PSI & EFSPI members are supported with understanding the requirements
for the implementation of industry data standards.
For 2020, our main objectives are:
- Key objective: Automation of reporting: Most companies are working towards a time from DB lock to High Level results of 24 hours with just 5 days for the Stats analysis to be complete. Therefore we’d look to ways to assist
with this through the use of technology.
- Key objective: Data visualization: Looks at technology to enhance visualization of data throughout the study
- Work with statisticians and statistical programmers to educate them on Data Science Tools (such as R, GitHub etc)
- Bridging the gap between SAS and other software (for example, SAS processes / global macros and do it in Git / GitHub)
- Assist other SIGS implement their needs in software/training/support. – Reach out to SIGS (including data science SIG) and ask if we can help with any of their projects & the implementation of them.
- R Validation Hub – Continue the work on the Hub project improving the website, and production of R metrics/ tests/ validation documentation
Who we are
The AIMS SIG was formed in May 2016 and currently consists of the following team members:
Name | Company | Role |
Lyn Taylor | Phastar, UK | Chair |
Martin Brown | PPD, UK | Vice Chair |
Andy Nicholls
| GSK, UK | R validation Hub Chair |
Chris Toffis
| SQN Clinical, UK | |
Jules Hernandez-Sanchez
| Roche, UK | |
Yann Roberts | Servier, France | |
Michael Grayer | Floating Point Statistics, UK | |
Michael Cartwright
| parexel, UK | |
Mark Bynens | JnJ, UK | |
Christina Fillmore | GSK, UK | |
Min-Hua Jen | Eli-Lilly, UK | |
We are also closely linked to the R Validation Hub who are working on the collection of metrics for R packages and the production of guidance information on the use of R in the pharmaceutical
industry. See the following for more information: https://www.pharmar.org
How to get in touch
If you are interested in joining the AIMS SIG, then please contact Lyn Taylor: lyn.taylor@phastar.com
If you are interested in R, and joining the R validation Hub
contact: psi.aims.r.validation@gmail.com
Latest News
AIMS was awarded funding from the R-Consortium in June 2018 to create of an online repository for R package validation in accordance with regulatory standards. The desire to use R in the pharmaceutical industry is evident
due to it being a very powerful object-orientated language, able to produce analyses and high quality graphics and being open source hence readily enabling bespoke extensions. It can be used for high performance computing and allows easy integration
with other software. It can also be used for complex analyses which is especially important when these analyses are not available in SAS. The AIMS SIG acted as a springboard for the R Validation Hub initiative which has now grown
into it's own committee with involvement of over 100 people representing 60 companies. For more information see: https://www.pharmar.org/ If you are interested in contributing to this project please contact:
psi.aims.r.validation@gmail.com.
The team are now looking at the use of gt for production of TFLs to see if using R can make study reporting and CSR creation more efficient. SPIN article to follow!
R Training and Help
Substantial free training is available for R. Some of our favourite sources are listed below.