Supports for Researchers

The Precision Medicine Initiative has worked to link and curate Alberta Health Services data to support research at the Libin. Through re-useable code infrastructure, research-ready data outputs can be generated on a by-project basis.

Workflow

The Precision Medicine Initiative strives to have a user-friendly workflow, approximated as follows:

1. Request - use our portal to submit a project at any stage, from an idea or concept to a fully developed protocol
2. Consult - the team will work with you to understand your data needs and how available data can be used to accomplish research objectives
3. Approvals - the Team will finalize a variable list and provide documentation (service agreement, REB / HSA application guide)
4. Data Product - the Team will build and transfer your data product once certificates and agreements are received

Please note, requestors require their own REB certificate and AHS approvals for data use. AHS remains the data custodian for all health data. 

Ready to start?

View the Core Data Model Summary

If you're ready to start, please submit a ticket and the Team will reach out to you with next steps! You may also reach out to LibinPrecisionMed@ucalgary.ca to learn more about how we can support your research.  

Who We Are

The Analysis Core Lab is a small team of statisticians and an epidemiologist dedicated to helping researchers answer important medical questions through careful study design, statistical analysis, and interpretation.

With nearly 40 years of combined experience, we can support almost any research project from start through to publication.

Who We Help

The Analysis Core Lab supports researchers across the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, including faculty, staff, students, and trainees. We also collaborate with investigators from other University of Calgary departments and research institutes when capacity allows.

Our Service Model

For more than a decade, the Analysis Core Lab has provided statistical support to Libin researchers through philanthropic funding from the Mozell family. As this generous donor funding has reached its conclusion, we are exploring new sustainability models that align with other core Libin research services. 

Investigators, research groups, and laboratories who are interested in participating in a shared-cost model can learn more by contacting melanie.king1@ucalgary.ca or libin@ucalgary.ca. 

What We Offer

We provide statistical support throughout all stages of research, including:

• study design and statistical analysis plans
• grant applications and letters of statistical support
• Bayesian and frequentist data analysis
• data management and quality assurance
• student supervision and methodological guidance
• methods and results sections for abstracts and manuscripts

The earlier we’re involved, the more value we can add—but we’re happy to join at any stage of your project.

Our Expertise

Our team has experience with clinical trials, administrative health databases, survey research, and investigator-generated datasets.

We regularly support projects involving:

• sample size and power calculations
• missing data methods
• longitudinal and repeated-measures analyses
• interrupted time series
• survival analysis
• propensity score methods and causal inference
• predictive modelling and risk stratification

Where appropriate, we also incorporate modern AI-assisted analytical workflows to improve efficiency while maintaining rigorous scientific standards.

Get Started

Whether you’re planning a new study or need support with an ongoing project, we’re here to help.

Contact the Analysis Core Lab through our intake form below or email at: analysiscore@ucalgary.ca.

Located in Health Research Innovation Centre (HRIC) GB44, the Core Pathology Lab is a shared resource centre within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute to manage and process human and animal tissue, cultured cells and artificial samples. Services are open to all University of Calgary principal investigators, including their staff and students.

Currently, users may leave samples with Core Pathology Lab staff members, who will process each sample. When complete, users may pick up their result(s) and/or slide(s), or the Core Pathology Lab may photograph the result(s) and e-mail it to the user. Turnaround time will depend on volume.

Contact Dr. Yong-Xiang Chen, Core Pathology Technician at yonchen@ucalgary.ca, for more information. 
 

The purpose of the cardiovascular physiology core is to aid members of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute in their research to understand the impact of disease on the heart and vascular system. This support is mediated through the development and characterization of cardiovascular disease models (small animal: mouse and rat) and the ability to visualize and characterize the phenotypic changes associated with these models. 

Our non-invasive cardiovascular phenotyping is accomplished through echo analysis of heart and vascular function using a Vevo-3100 echocardiography machine. This echo machine is capable of providing B-Mode and M-Mode measurements of the heart and vasculature with high resolution capable of measuring blood vessels as small as a mouse coronary artery. Colour flow Doppler, Tissue Doppler and Pulse Wave Doppler are used to examine mitral valve activity in heart and the response of blood vessels to various treatments.

The core has established models of heart disease such as coronary artery ligation for myocardial infarction (MI), transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for cardiac hypertrophy, vascular surgery for aneurysm development, as well as experience with the application of vectors (adenovirus/plasmid/exosome) involved in altering the phenotype of the heart. Cardiac function and blood pressure measurements are obtained through pressure catheters and pressure-volume (PV) loop analysis. 

Additional assistance in tissue collection and preparation for gene/protein expression and analysis, as well as the development of specialized systems for the analysis of cardiac function (Langendorf, isolated working heart system) are available.

Services

• Echocardiography
• Small animal surgery
• Lab work

There is a cost to use the Cardiovascular Physiology Core. 

If using the Cardiovascular Physiology Core, please ensure staff are listed on animal protocols.

For more information contact Dr. Darrell Belke, PhD, at dbelke@ucalgary.ca. 

The goal of this program is to provide feedback on your ideas before they are formally written in a grant proposal. Participants will present their concept to an expert audience for constructive feedback for design and execution of their proposed science at the early stages of grant development.

Details

• Begin this process three to four months before your grant application deadline
• Provide a one-page overview of your proposal
• Use the white board and/or slides to outline your proposed aims, hypotheses, approaches and methods
• If desired, provide a list of people from whom you would like to receive feedback

LCI Test Your Concept Leads

The LCI Test Your Concept leads have extensive expertise in their areas. They will facilitate and support relevant sessions. 

• Dr. Henry Duff - Biomedical research (Pillar 1)
• Dr. Bob Sheldon - Clinical research (Pillar 2)
• Dr. Dave Campbell - Health services research (Pillar 3) and Social, cultural, environmental and population health research (Pillar 4)

This program provides feedback on grant writing. Grant review increases your chance of success through CIHR and other granting agencies. 

Researchers requesting Internal Peer Review (IPR) must register on the Cumming School of Medicine's Grant Development Office's SharePoint site.

Details

• Available to all Libin members, whether or not you have participated in Test Your Concept
• Provide a list of people you would like as reviewers based on their background. Note that evidence shows that grant review, even when provided by individuals without direct expertise in your area of study, enhances grant success. 

Timeline

There is no value in starting the Internal Peer Review process too close to grant deadline. The following timeline is suggested:

• At least 3 months prior to deadline, applicants connect with the LCI (i.e. submit the request form) to indicate that they are planning a submission and that they require IPR. This will enable the LCI Operations Office and the IPR lead(s) to begin planning and considering who to seek as reviewers.
• No less than 2 months prior to deadline, applicants provide a draft of their proposal that is appropriately developed and ready for distribution to reviewers.  

The LCI cannot assist with formal IPR if these timelines are not met. 

LCI IPR Leads

The LCI IPR leads have extensive expertise in their areas. They will facilitate and support relevant sessions. 

• Dr. Henry Duff - Biomedical research (Pillar 1)
• Dr. Bob Sheldon - Clinical research (Pillar 2)
• Dr. Dave Campbell - Health services research (Pillar 3) and Social, cultural, environmental and population health research (Pillar 4)

To increase the implementation of the SAGER guidelines and PROGRESS framework within research and publishing from the Libin membership, the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative will be offering a new consultative service. 

Libin members and their students will be eligible for cost-free consultation and practical facilitation of the inclusion of sex and gender considerations into their research. This service can be used to expand and improve research at any point of the research cycle (i.e. grant applications, protocol development, thesis and/or manuscript publication). Researchers in all pillars are encouraged to access this service.