The qBRC provides on-demand data analysis and mining as well as research software engineering (RSE) consulting services. The qBRC staff will assist investigators on planning, analyzing, and interpreting the results and provide investigators with publication ready materials. Our staff will focus on data QC, standardization, integration, feature selection/extraction, and pattern recognition by using either traditional machine learning, network analysis, or advance learning methods.
Grant Support
qBRC supports research grant submission by working closely with researchers to develop analytical strategy and experimental design. Please contact Derrick K. DeConti at ddeconti@hsph.harvard.edu for more information.
Project Request
Researchers interested in working with the qBRC services can email qbrc@hsph.harvard.edu to request consultation. Service Agreement may be required for some researchers before project begins.
Procedure
Project execution begins once a consensus on the Statement of Work (SOW) defining project objectives, scopes, and deliverables has been reached, a budget, and billing information is provided by the requesting researcher. In the event the project requirements change during any phase of the project, a Change of Scope document will be added. Requests for publication support on past data analysis will require initiation of a new project and will be invoiced based on the current qBRC Analyst consultant hourly rate. Final costs will be based on the actual time and materials necessary to perform the specified services but will not exceed the above total without prior approval by both parties.
While all the services offered at the qBRC are available on a first-come, first served basis, the requesting researcher will notify qBRC staff prior to the start of the project of fixed deadlines (e.g. grant, paper, review, and abstract submission dates) to facilitate project planning. Researcher will inform qBRC staff of any security, confidentiality, or IRB declaration requirements associated with the data before the start of the project.
Reporting and Invoicing
All data sets, results, and documentation will be shared through password protected secure website with requesting researchers at regular intervals as defined by project milestones. The requesting researcher will receive monthly itemized invoice even for projects which are covered from external sources and for which no transfer of funds is required.
The client will provide associated grant or PO information to qBRC. The qBRC requires basic information on any grant application that is developed as a result of consultation as part of our reporting process.
Data Security and Retention
Due to space constraints, the qBRC cannot be responsible for storage of either original or derived data beyond the completion of the project. As such, researchers are strongly encouraged to obtain backup copies of both their original and derived data. The QBRC will help facilitate this process when possible.
Publication Support
Since the results from analysis projects can take variable timeframe and effort to be incorporated into manuscript for submission, all publication support for previously done analysis will be treated as new project.
Acknowledgments and authorship
The QBRC does not require co-authorship on studies using data generated solely on a fee-for-service basis using standard analysis methods by qBRC staff. In cases where significant intellectual contributions have been made by qBRC staff, co-authorship may be appropriate, following usually-accepted scientific practice. The requesting researcher and qBRC Director will discuss appropriate authorship.
Please note that payment of fees for data analysis services and authorship are not mutually exclusive and that authorship does not substitute for payment of Center expenses for services rendered.
Costs
qBRC consulting for data analysis and software development is charged by hourly rate. The rates are $182 for HU/HMS/HSPH members, $200 for other non-profits institutes, and $227 for industry members.
