![Dr Mintu Nath Dr Mintu Nath](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/s02mn9/Mintu_Nath.jpg)
MSc, PhD, SFHEA
Senior Lecturer
- About
-
- Email Address
- mintu.nath@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 437109
- Office Address
The University of Aberdeen
Medical Statistics Team
Institute of Applied Health Sciences
Room 1:004 Polwarth Building
Foresterhill
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
Before joining the University of Aberdeen, I worked as a Senior Statistician with Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, and later as a Senior Biomedical Statistician with the University of Leicester. Broadly, my research, consultancy and teaching focussed on the areas of statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology and applied statistics, particularly those involving high-volume and high-dimensional datasets.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
-
Member of the University Senate
Member of the University Research Culture Group
Member of Postgraduate Teaching Task and Finish Group
- External Memberships
-
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports
Honorary Researcher of the NHS Grampian
Honorary Lecturer of the University of Leicester
- Research
-
Research Overview
My research interests include exploring and integrating diverse resources of large patient cohorts - comprising of anthropometric, clinical, imaging, genetic and multi-omics data - to develop predictive models to evaluate the risk of important diseases.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Applied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Applied Statistics
- Biomedical Sciences
- Machine Learning
- Health Informatics
- Medical Statistics
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
Finding Endometriosis using Machine Learning (FEMaLE)
I am collaborating with researchers from the University of Aberdeen, the University of Edinburgh and Aarhus University (Denmark) to explore the prevalence of endometriosis-like symptoms in a population of general practice patients and identify factors that can aid earlier identification of women most at risk of a diagnosis of endometriosis. We will also develop and validate a predictive model to estimate the probability of a laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis from the enumerated symptom trajectory, medication, lifestyle factors etc.
A randomised, double-blind placebo controlled trial of the effectiveness of the beta-blocker bisoprolol in preventing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
I am leading statistical analyses of BICS (Bisoprolol in COPD Study) clinical trial. The study is funded by NIHR Health Technology Assessment. The primary objective of this trial is to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness (in terms of number of exacerbations requiring change in management) of adding bisoprolol (maximal dose 5mg once a day, or maximum tolerated dose) to usual COPD therapies in patients with COPD at high risk of exacerbation (history of at least two COPD exacerbations in the previous year) over a one-year follow-up period.
Using multi-dimensional eye-tracking data (saccade) to develop predictive models for diagnosing and managing major mental illness
Funded by the NHS Grampian Endowment award and Millar Mackenzie Trust, we are implementing machine learning tools to develop predictive models of mental health conditions using multi-dimensional eye-tracking data.
Mathematical and statistical evaluation of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) data for the management of cancer
I am collaborating with Prof Professor Andy Welch at the University of Aberdeen on the application of mathematical and statistical tools to analyse PET data for detecting pathophysiological changes in different tissues. We are currently supervising one PhD student.
Understanding and improving frailty pathways in the hospital setting
In collaboration with NHS Grampian researchers, I am developing a mathematical and statistical framework of patient flow in hospital settings using historical data on hospital episodes. The objective is to translate patients' movement in the hospital in a multistate modelling framework where patients stay in one state at a given time point but move between states with time.
BIOSTAT-CHF - BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure
BIOSTAT-CHF is a Consortium of 11 European countries, funded by an FP7 Health grant from the European Union. I am leading the work to develop a comprehensive bioinformatics and statistical analysis workflow for analysing high-resolution array GeneChip® Human Transcriptomic Array 2.0 data in collaboration with the team at the University of Leicester and the EU partner organisations.
Past Research
SHERLOCK - An observational Study on HEalthcare Resource utiLisation related to exacerbatiOns in patients with COPD
Using multiple sources and high-volume population data of primary care patients affected with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the project investigates the associations between the history of exacerbations with the frequency and rate of future exacerbations as well as healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) cost. There is a PhD opportunity to develop predictive models using linked electronic health records in a machine-learning framework to assess the risk of moderate and severe exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Contact me if you are interested.
The Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the retinal layers and its association with the retinal pathophysiology in infants
I have collaborated with researchers at the University of Leicester to develop comprehensive statistical models to analyse foveal and retinal morphological data in preterm infants. We are developing a data-driven approach to understand the dynamics of retinal development in neonatal babies and its association with the retinopathy of prematurity using OCT data.
Data-driven design, monitoring, and adaptation of COVID and non-COVID clinical care pathways
We are using real-time as well as historical data to understand the healthcare utilisation of people shielding during COVID-19 as well as affected by the disease. The project is funded by NHS Endowment Research Grant and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office.
The UK-REBOA (Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta) Trial
Funded by NIHR, I am collaborating with clinicians and scientists to develop methodologies for the elicitation of experts' probabilities in the context of randomised control trial.
Collaborations
Can deep learning help improve automated retinal image analysis algorithms for diabetic retinopathy screening?
I am collaborating with clinicians and scientists at the NHS and the University of Aberdeen for developing and optimising deep learning algorithms to automate the assessment of retinal features associated with diabetic retinopathy.
Investigating socioeconomic disparities as a cause and consequence of deteriorating kidney health among people admitted to hospital with an acute illness
The project aims to establish the relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes among people leaving hospitals with and without acute kidney injury (AKI). The project will also explore the feasibility and added value of including individual-level (census) socioeconomic measures in clinical risk tools for predicting adverse health outcomes.
Supervision
My current supervision areas are: Applied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences.
Current PhD Projects
Predictive modelling of adverse outcomes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) using pre-treatment positron emission tomography (PET) radiomics (Supervisor)
Study on prevalence and geographical distribution of endometriosis-like symptoms in the UK (Co-supervisor)
- Teaching
-
Teaching Responsibilities
I undertake teaching and training programs in Statistics for MSc and PhD students. I also conduct statistical consultancies for students as well as the University and NHS staff. I am interested to develop user-friendly and interactive applications to enhance the learning of statistical principles. I provide a range of R courses for the University staff and Doctoral students.
Applied Statistics Course
I teach different statistical courses organised by the Medical Statistics team:
- MSc Course: Applied Statistics (PU5017)
- MSc Online course: Applied Statistics (PU5522)
- MSc Course: Machine Learning (PX5509, PX5517)
- Intermediate Medical Statistics for University staff and postgraduate students
- Other statistics courses as part of the Medical Statistics Team
ABACUS - Apps Based Activities for Communicating and Understanding Statistics
ABACUS is a set of R Shiny apps for effective communication and understanding of statistics. The current version includes explaining properties of the normal distribution, properties of the sampling distribution, one-sample z and t-tests, two samples independent (unpaired) t-test and analysis of variance. Check the ABACUS website and explore it. We will be adding new modules in future. Please visit again for more updates.
ABACUS on CRAN
ABACUS is also available as an R package on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN). Please download ABACUS from the CRAN package repository.
iDRUG: interactive Dose-Response User Guide
With fundings from the British Pharmacological Society, I am collaborating with Prof Steven Tucker at the University of Aberdeen to develop a simple, interactive and user-friendly application to conduct dose-response analysis in Pharmacology settings. The iDRUG website is live now. Watch a demonstration of iDRUG here. Further development of iDRUG is in progress. Watch this space for further details!
R Courses
I developed and presented an extensive array of introductory and advanced R courses as well as statistical analysis in the R software environment. If you are interested to organise bespoke R courses for your staff, I will be happy to help. Please contact me with the details of your request.
Non-course Teaching Responsibilities
I presented a CPD workshop R You Ready for Python at the Royal Statistical Science Conference 2022 in Aberdeen. Both R and Python users may embrace both languages and enhance their productivity by leveraging the best of both worlds. Using bite-sized simple R and Python scripts, the workshop highlights similarities and differences between these two programming environments – their syntax, semantics, and implementation framework. It demonstrates how understanding these basic and subtle concepts could benefit the efficient usage of both programming languages.
I presented the second CPD workshop Debugging Deciphered at the Royal Statistical Science Conference 2023 in Harrogate. The workshop explores the approach to debugging R and Python scripts, primarily focussing on semantic errors. Using bite-sized examples, the workshop presents the fundamental building blocks of the R and Python function: function arguments, global and local environments, and other essential function components. Next, we investigate key R and Python debugging tools like traceback, debug and browser and venture into the detective work to identify the bugs.
I will present a CPD workshop Scale it with SQL at the Royal Statistical Science Conference 2024 in Brighton. The workshop will demonstrate the implementation of SQL in open source platform (R and Python) and popular applications (like Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and SAS). The workshop will be useful for statisticians, data scientists, data administrators and researchers to efficiently handling reasonably large-sized data (simple or relational) in multiple programming landscapes. Watch this space for further details.
- Publications
-
Page 1 of 3 Results 1 to 25 of 59
Individual and neighborhood-level social and deprivation factors impact kidney health in the GLOMMS-CORE study
Kidney InternationalContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2024.07.021
Drug exposure as a predictor in diabetic retinopathy risk prediction models: a systematic review and meta-analysis
American Journal of OphthalmologyContributions to Journals: Review articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2024.07.012
Development and Validation of Prognostic Models Using Radiomic Features from Pre-Treatment Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Images in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Patients
Cancers, vol. 16, no. 12, 2195Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16122195
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Does following an “excellent” candidate in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination affect your checklist score?
Journal of Applied Research in Higher EducationContributions to Journals: ArticlesComparison of semi-automatic and manual segmentation methods for tumor delineation on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) positron emission tomography (PET) images
Physics in Medicine and Biology, vol. 69, no. 9, 095005Contributions to Journals: ArticlesBisoprolol in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at High Risk of Exacerbation: The BICS Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMAContributions to Journals: ArticlesBiomarker and transcriptomics profiles of serum selenium concentrations in patients with heart failure are associated with immunoregulatory processes
Redox Biology, vol. 70, 103046Contributions to Journals: ArticlesUse of Hand-Held Optical Coherence Tomography during Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Screening demonstrates an increased Outer Retina from early Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants with ROP
Retina, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 306-315Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe Bisoprolol in COPD Study (BICS): A UK Randomized Controlled Trial of Bisoprolol in People With COPD at Risk of Exacerbation
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 2024, no. 209Contributions to Journals: AbstractsShort- and Long-Term Impact of Prior Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations on Healthcare Resource Utilization and Related Costs: An Observational Study (SHERLOCK)
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 92-100Contributions to Journals: ArticlesRelationship of cardiorenal risk factors with albuminuria based on age, smoking, glycaemic status and BMI: a retrospective cohort study of the UK Biobank data
BMJ Public Health, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. e000172Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEmergency Department Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta in Trauma Patients With Exsanguinating Hemorrhage: The UK-REBOA Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA, vol. 330, no. 19, pp. 1862-1871Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEmergency Department Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta in Trauma Patients with Exsanguinating Hemorrhage: The UK-REBOA Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA, vol. 330, no. 19, pp. 1862-1871Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.20850
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Multiomics Analysis Provides Novel Pathways Related to Progression of Heart Failure
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 82, no. 20, pp. 1921-1931Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.08.053
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
An interactive application to motivate statistical thinking in frequentists and Bayesian inferential frameworks.
Contributions to Conferences: Oral PresentationsDoes treatment modality affect measures of arterial stiffness in women with gestational diabetes?
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 422-429Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA systematic review and meta-analysis of predictive and prognostic models for outcome prediction using positron emission tomography radiomics in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients
Cancer Medicine, vol. 12, no. 15, pp. 16181-16194Contributions to Journals: Review articlesAn Interactive Application Demonstrating Frequentist and Bayesian Inferential Frameworks
Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Farnell, D. J. J., Medeiros Mirra, R. (eds.). Springer International Publishing AG, pp. 147-166, 20 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_11
A self-directed interactive learning environment to conduct dose-response analysis.
Contributions to Conferences: Oral PresentationsAn inclusive strategy to enhance equity and quality of research-led teaching experience
Contributions to Conferences: Oral PresentationsHarnessing features of a web browser to develop an effective, efficient and integrated teaching environment to deliver course content.
Contributions to Conferences: Oral PresentationsTeaching statistics with disciplinary identity using a user-friendly and interactive interface
Contributions to Conferences: Oral PresentationsDoes following an “excellent” candidate in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) affect your checklist score?
Higher Education Teaching and Learning conference - 2023Contributions to Conferences: PostersCare processes and outcomes of deprivation across the clinical course of kidney disease: Findings from a high-income country with universal healthcare
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 1170-1182Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSeverity of cystoid macular oedema in preterm infants observed using hand-held spectral domain optical coherence tomography improves weekly with postmenstrual age
EyeContributions to Journals: Articles