by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

The goals of Barbara C. Tilley, Ph.D., are not as complicated as multivariate statistics or chemical kinetics. As the new and first female chair of the Department of Biometry and Epidemiology, Tilley hopes to facilitate continued growth of community based research projects, increase campus-wide collaboration, and update the departmental curriculum.

Tilley foresees increased collaboration between faculty in the department and other departments and centers across campus because of both the expected increase in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the recruitment of new faculty broadening the Department of Biometry and Epidemiology’s expertise.

As examples, Tilley hopes to see development of more faculty expertise in the areas of genetic statistics and genetic epidemiology, medical informatics and in newer multivariable statistical methods.

Most biometric and epidemiologic research is supported by NIH. By taking advantage of the increase in NIH funding available and the recruitment of new faculty, Tilley hopes to expand independent research within the department. She foresees potential for growth in funding of clinical trials, community based research and methodologic research.

Her vision of the curriculum will include new courses and a new clinical masters program for health professionals. “The computer age has provided extensive new tools to the world of medicine and at the same time has increased the expectations of patients, providers and those who perform health care research. We need to train our students to develop solutions to the complex medical data issues of today and the future and make these solutions available to MUSC faculty,” Tilley said.

During her 25-year career, Tilley has held prestigious positions working in biometry and epidemiology. She previously served as department chair of biostatistics and research epidemiology at Henry Ford Health Sciences Center in Detroit and as professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. She worked as a biostatistician in Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic and headed cancer prevention epidemiology at M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston.

A native of San Rafael, Calif., Tilley earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from California State University at Northridge, her master's degree in biomathematics from the University of Washington, Seattle, and her doctoral degree in biometry at the University of Texas, School of Public Health, in Houston.

She is a fellow of the American Statistical Association and a member of the American Public Health Association, and Biometric Society, ENAR. She has served on numerous review groups associated with NIH, including the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Clinical Trials Committee. She has also served on an FDA advisory committee and is serving on a study section for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

Her own independent research has been in clinical trials with the discovery and development of new applications which enhance studies in stroke, cancer prevention and rheumatoid arthritis. She is currently director of the Coordinating Center for the National Institute on Aging’s Resource Centers for Minority Agency Research.

“It’s an exciting time to be joining MUSC,” Tilley said. “With the large increase available in NIH funding and expansion of research faculty throughout MUSC, there are great opportunities to advance general medical knowledge and to use this knowledge to improve the health of our own community. I am happy our department will be a part of this effort.”