Yimei Li Group

Our group also develops novel clinical trial designs. Because randomized studies are often infeasible in pediatric cancer trials, we recently developed a group sequential design for a historical-controlled trial. An alternative approach is the use of historical controls that incorporate patient-level data as comparison cohorts. We extended the historical-control trial design methods introduced by my former colleagues at St. Jude to perform efficient interim analyses and monitor treatment effectiveness. This method has been implemented in multiple Children’s Oncology Group (COG), Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC), and St. Jude trials. As we move forward, we have interest in contributing to the method development for trials with delayed-treatment effects.

Another area of focus in our methodology development comes from our work with the SJLIFE and Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) studies. The complex data collected from these two studies are very rich and often statistically challenging. We have identified some complex missing data problems and published four methodological papers to propose possible solutions. In our current effort, we work to decipher risk factors, including genetic factors, associated with temporal progression of dental disease in cancer survivors. 

The novel biostatistical approaches we develop are reflective of our group’s collaborative, explorative nature. Clinical needs observed in our collaborative efforts spark the research and development of new statistical methodologies and, in turn, drive research that benefits clinical care. We pride ourselves on our approach and how our research and development contribute to the advancement of clinical care for children with catastrophic diseases.