Biostatistics Core Spotlight – A Strong Foundation, A Bright Future: Leadership Update for the HCC Biostatistics Core
Published 06/02/2026
The HCC Biostatistics Core is a shared resource supporting consultation on biostatistics related to basic, clinical, and translational cancer research.
Its mission is to:
- Ensure that experimental designs, study monitoring, and data analyses take advantage of robust, efficient methods that reflect best practices in biostatistics
- Support peer reviewed (NIH or foundation) grant proposals
- Assist with planning and analysis of pilot and small scale studies
Paul J. Catalano, ScD took over the Biostatistics Core as director from Dave Harrington in 2007, after Dave led the core successfully for many years. Dr. Rebecca Gelman was co-Director at the time and remained in that role until her retirement in 2024. Dr. Nabihah Tayob was approved as co-director in June 2024. Dr. Catalano reflects on his role in leading the Biostatistics Core, "During my role as core Director, I have had the pleasure of working and collaborating with so many of the research programs and disease areas over the years including the sarcoma group, the nursing researchers in the Cantor Center, the Kidney Cancer Program, the Psychosocial (Oncology) and Palliative Care (Program) [now called Supportive Oncology] groups and of course, my main collaborators in Radiation Oncology. It has also been nothing short of a delight interacting with all of our dedicated and talented statisticians here at DFCI and across all of the other core sites."
Dr. Catalano's leadership has shaped the Biostatistics Core during a rapidly evolving period of clinical research at DFCI to how it is known today. However, Dr. Catalano couldn't do it alone, "I may be biased, but I believe we have the strongest team of cancer statisticians across all of the country’s comprehensive cancer centers." Dr. Catalano demonstrates how one member can make an impact, but a team makes a difference.
Another member of this team will assume leadership of the Biostatistics Core. Paul Catalano shared, "We are all very lucky to welcome Dr. Tayob to lead this important Core—she has already demonstrated her scientific and administrative talents as co-Director and I am certain that these are signs of even greater things under her leadership." This warm hand-off of leadership bodes well for the Core's future, showing the care that both Directors have and will put into the Core, sharing a common goal of collaboration and research.
Dr. Tayob is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Data Science at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and in the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She earned her undergraduate degree in Statistics from the University of Cape Town and her MS and PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan. She completed her postdoctoral training at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she also served as Assistant Professor prior to joining Dana-Farber. Her research focuses on early cancer detection, biomarker evaluation, and survival analysis, and she actively collaborates with investigators in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers. She is also an NIH-funded investigator.
Nabihah Tayob, PhD, taking over for Dr. Catalano in the role of Director, shares her excitement at the opportunity, "This is such an exciting time for the Harvard Cancer Consortium, and I am thrilled to be taking on this leadership role of the Biostatistics Core as we prepare for our upcoming renewal. The Biostatistics Core has developed a strong collaborative foundation through Dr. Catalano's leadership and that will not change. We are excited to be engaged in the important clinical and scientific research being conducted throughout the Consortium and look forward to continued partnerships."
The Biostatistics Core is under new management yet the new leader shares the same goal of collaboration that was pioneered through Dr. Catalano. Looking forward, Dr. Tayob's leadership will continue to grow the Biostatistics Core in new and exciting ways while staying true to the core principles of collaboration and research. Without both of these amazing leaders, the Biostatistics Core would not be where it is today, and would not be poised to grow to meet the future of cancer research.
This leadership transition reflects both continuity and momentum. Building on a strong foundation, the Biostatistics Core remains committed to advancing collaborative, high-impact cancer research under Dr. Tayob’s direction.