ACTA STInG Data and Safety Monitoring Board Mentoring Program for Statisticians

The ACTA Statistics in Trials Interest Group (STInG) Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) mentoring program was established to facilitate and support training for statisticians in the role of a DSMB statistician. Statisticians are essential members of DSMBs but the number of statisticians in Australia with expertise and experience to fulfill the role of a DSMB statistician does not meet the growing demand. This mentoring program aims to address this shortage by providing ‘on-the-job’ training for statisticians.

The model for the ACTA STInG DSMB mentoring program revolves around meetings for one or more DSMBs on which the mentor is the DSMB statistician and the mentee acts as a silent observer of the DSMB process.

DSMB resources

Role of a Mentor and Mentee

Mentor:

An experienced DSMB statistician currently working on at least one DSMB and able to obtain sponsor approval to work with a mentee on the DSMB. The mentor will liaise with the study team and DSMB to obtain approval for the mentee to act as a silent observer.

Mentee:

An inexperienced DSMB statistician or an experienced DSMB statistician wanting the opportunity to observe the interim data monitoring of more complex clinical trials. The mentee will act as a silent observer at DSMB meetings.

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Both will be expected to prepare and attend mentor-mentee and DSMB meetings and provide feedback on the program by completing annual and end of program surveys.

Program Framework

Call out for mentees and mentors to members of ACTA STInG will take place annually. Mentees and mentors will be paired by the DSMB mentoring program coordinators who are members of the ACTA STInG leadership group. An orientation meeting with the coordinators of the DSMB mentoring program will provide individual guidance to the mentee-mentor pair at the start of the mentoring program. The mentoring relationship may continue for as long as it is supported by the mentee and mentor, with a minimum duration of at least one DSMB meeting. An annual survey will evaluate the mentee’s and mentor’s experience with the mentoring program.

This program is open to statisticians who are members of ACTA STInG. Membership of ACTA STInG is free and you can join by completing this form.

Statisticians who would like to know more about the ACTA STInG mentoring program can email STInG at dsmb.program@acta.au