Personal profile
Biography
Extensive background in Statistics and Mathematics with a convincing track record of collaborative and primary research in Biostatistics as well as considerable experience in academic related duties. Main research interest is in the development of statistical techniques that enable the translation of complicated analytical findings to a non-technical audience, e.g. patients, policy makers etc. Examples of my outputs in this space are the development of an alternative pruning approach for tree based methods (often used by clinicians to model responses in an easily interpretable manner) and the use of the mean residual life function (which summarises the survival experience of a patient in units of time rather than in probabilities or hazards) as a summary of censored survival data, with a novel non-parametric estimator for low or moderate type I censoring. Currently I am working in a derivation of a score for the risk of ischemic stroke using an incidence prediction model based on modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors as measured in the INTERSTROKE case-control study. Overall leadership role in the Biostatistics Unit in the Clinical Research Facility Galway including protocol development (e.g. design, data collection, sample size calculations), writing statistical analysis plans, processing and analysing data for interim analyses and Independent Data Monitoring Committees meetings, producing final statistical reports and advising on presentation and interpretation of results for Public - No restrictionations. Leading role organising and conducting meetings with the Biostatistics and Data Management research teams to clarify objectives, develop team work planstimetables for research and support staff and to communicate progress. Strong statistical programming skills in R and a vast knowledge of some of its translational tools such as shiny. Using these tools, I have created an online calculator for incorporating early inefficacy stopping rules in superiority clinical trials with survival outcomes. I have also co-authored a package in R, DynNom, which demonstrates the results of linear, generalised linear and proportional hazard models as a dynamic nomogram in a web browser.
Research Interests
My main research interest is in the development of statistical techniques that enable the translation of complicated analytical findings to a non-technical audience, e.g. patients, policy makers etc. Examples of my outputs in this space in the last three years are the development of an alternative pruning approach for tree based methods (often used by clinicians to model responses in an easily interpretable manner) and the use of the mean residual life function (which summarises the survival experience of a patient in units of time rather than in probabilities or hazards) as a summary of censored survival data, with a novel nonparametric estimator for low or moderate type I censoring. Both works have been published in leading statistical journals. My more recent research involves collaborations in the area of population health and the analysis of observational data. An example of this are two recent papers published in a leading statistical journal, one that introduce new estimation methods for average attributable fractions that can be used for both case-control and prospective studies, and the other one that combines randomised and observational evidence in the estimation of treatment effects.
Education/Academic qualification
B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
External positions
Lecturer in Medical Biostatistics (Clinical Trials), National University of Ireland, Galway
1 Jul 2018 → …
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Antidepressant efficacy and safety of scopolamine in individuals with bipolar disorder (SCOPE-BD): A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Miravalles, C., Kane, R., Rossier, A. T., Quirke, J., Aguilar Macías, D. A., Alvarez-Iglesias, A., Chukwudi, K., McDonald, C., Cannon, D. M. & Hallahan, B., 15 Mar 2026, In: Journal of Affective Disorders. 397, 120888.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Prediction of time to insulin initiation in gestational diabetes mellitus: a secondary analysis of the EMERGE trial
Zhu, Y., Alvarez-Iglesias, A., Egan, A. M., Smyth, A., Newman, C., Macias, D. A., Devane, D., Dunne, F., O'Donnell, M., O'Shea, P., Gillespie, P. & Simpkin, A. J., Jan 2026, In: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 231, 113070.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A cluster-randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the Cognitive Occupation-Based programme for people with Multiple Sclerosis (COB-MS)
COB-MS PPI Advisory Panel 1, Jan 2025, In: Neurological Sciences. 46, 1, p. 445-462 18 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Can nebulised heparin reduce acute lung injury in patients with SARS‑CoV‑2 requiring advanced respiratory support in Ireland: the CHARTER‑Ireland phase Ib/IIa, randomised, parallel-group, open-label study
Cosgrave, D., McNicholas, B., Hanley, C., Sheehan, J. R., Calpin, P., Kernan, M., Murphy, D., Alvarez‑Iglesias, A., Ferguson, J., Giacomini, C., Greene, C., Cody, C., McGeary, S., Murphy, M., Fitzgerald, M., Curley, G., Dixon, B., Smith, R. J., Masterson, C. & O’Toole, D. & 2 others, , Dec 2025, In: Intensive Care Medicine Experimental. 13, 1, 15.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus) -
Can nebulised heparin reduce acute lung injury in patients with SARS‑CoV‑2 requiring advanced respiratory support in Ireland: the CHARTER‑Ireland phase Ib/IIa, randomised, parallel-group, open-label study
Cosgrave, D., McNicholas, B., Hanley, C., Sheehan, J. R., Calpin, P., Kernan, M., Murphy, D., Alvarez-Iglesias, A., Ferguson, J., Giacomini, C., Greene, C., Cody, C., McGeary, S., Murphy, M., Fitzgerald, M., Curley, G., Dixon, B., Smith, R. J., Masterson, C. & O'Toole, D. & 2 others, , 7 Feb 2025, In: Intensive Care Medicine Experimental. 13, 1, p. 15Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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Parastoo Niloofar
Alvarez-Iglesias, A. (Co-Supervisor)
2024Activity: Other › Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
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Comput Stat Data An (Journal)
Alvarez-Iglesias, A. (Reviewer)
1 Jan 2018 → …Activity: Reviews and editorial work › Reviews and Editorial work
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Extensions and Applications of Survival Trees in Medical Data
Alvarez-Iglesias, A. (Participant)
2012 → …Activity: Other › Education
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Amirhossein Jalali National Unversity of Ireland (NUI)
Alvarez-Iglesias, A. (Other)
2010 → 2018Activity: Other › Postgraduates Supervised
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Classification and Regression Trees: an application-based study
Alvarez-Iglesias, A. (Participant)
2008 → …Activity: Other › Education