The unit is responsible for the statistical and methodological aspects of planning, conducting, analyzing, FAIRifying, and publishing epidemiological studies. It specializes in the analysis of primary data (including nutritional data, physical activity data, genetic and molecular data), also in combination with secondary data (e.g., spatial exposure data). Federated data analysis plays an increasingly important role. With this statistical method, analysis codes are transmitted with the data so that no personal data need to be transferred, thus ensuring privacy and data security.

Our aims are:

• Biometrically sound design of projects
• Application, comparison, adaptation, and further development of innovative analytical methods
• Modeling of genetic and molecular risk factors
• Improving research data infrastructure (including development of interactive dashboards)
• Strengthening federated data analysis

We pursue our diverse research interests in projects with internal and external collaborators. These include:

• Improving the classification of physical activity and eating behavior
• Developing tools for standardized data quality assessment and strengthening of FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability)
• Modeling geographic data to investigate spatial exposure and primary data
• Application of graphical models and network analyzes
• Modeling and interpretation of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions
• Further development of federated data analysis, including the implementation of statistical methods such as GAMLSS
• Improving record linkage of research-relevant data sources in Germany and creating a central catalog of health-relevant study data

Ronja Foraita
Head of Unit

Contact:
Dr. Ronja Foraita
Tel: +49 (0)421 218-56954
Fax: +49 (0)421 218-56941

Email:
foraita(at)leibniz-bips.de