UW Department of Biostatistics

What UW Department of Biostatistics does

The UW Department of Biostatistics is an academic department within the University of Washington School of Public Health, established in 1945 and headquartered in the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health on the UW Seattle campus. It is one of the highest-ranked biostatistics programs in the United States (No. 3 in U.S. News & World Report 2026, No. 1 among public programs) and sits within a School of Public Health ranked No. 4 globally by ShanghaiRanking. Its primary functions are graduate education (MS with Thesis and Capstone tracks, PhD, and a Certificate in Biostatistics), methodologic research in causal inference, statistical genetics and genomics, longitudinal data analysis, survival analysis, clinical trials, and machine learning for biomedical applications, and operation of four NIH-funded research centers (Center for Biomedical Statistics, Genetic Analysis Center, Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, and UW Clinical Trials Center). It also runs two annual summer training institutes (Statistical Genetics and Statistics for Big Data) that have trained 2,500+ researchers.

Name

UW Department of Biostatistics

Legal name

University of Washington Department of Biostatistics

Website

https://biostat.washington.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The UW Department of Biostatistics is a public academic department within the University of Washington School of Public Health that offers MS, PhD, and Certificate programs in biostatistics, operates four NIH-funded research centers and two summer training institutes, and serves graduate students, federal agencies, and clinical research networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Biostatistics Education and Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data Management, Biostatistics & Statistical Programming FSP (HLAGAOAB), Investigator & Site Training / GCP Support (HLAGACAF), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Biostatistics education
• Statistical research
• Clinical trials coordination
• Statistical genetics
• Graduate degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and State Funding: As a public university department within the University of Washington School of Public Health, primary funding comes from state allocations and student tuition for degree programs (MS, PhD, Certificate).
2. Federal Research Grants: Major NIH, NSF, and NHGRI funding supports faculty research programs including Kevin Lin's $2M NIGMS award, Guanghao Qi's $945K K01 award, and NIH grants for Clinical Trials Center, Genetic Analysis Center, and GREGoR Consortium Data Coordinating Center.
3. Capstone Program Sponsorship: Corporate and institutional sponsors fund MS Capstone student projects, providing industry connections and practical training opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The UW Department of Biostatistics provides graduate-level education (MS Thesis, MS Capstone, PhD, and Certificate programs) in biostatistics and statistical genetics. It operates four research centers (Center for Biomedical Statistics, Genetic Analysis Center, Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, and UW Clinical Trials Center) that deliver biostatistical collaboration, data coordination, and consulting services for NIH-funded research networks and partner institutions. The department also runs two annual Summer Institutes (Statistical Genetics and Statistics for Big Data) providing intensive short-course training.

Product overview

The UW Department of Biostatistics offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research services. The academic offerings include a Master of Science (MS) Capstone Program (18-month professional degree with three specialization pathways: data science, statistical genetics, and modeling and methods), a PhD Program, and a Certificate in Biostatistics. Research infrastructure includes four major centers: the Center for Biomedical Statistics (conducting clinical trials), Genetic Analysis Center (supporting large consortia including rare disease research), Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, and UW Clinical Trials Center. The department also runs two summer training institutes (Statistical Genetics and Statistics for Big Data). These programs and centers work together to advance biostatistical methodology and train the next generation of biostatisticians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MS Capstone Program: 18-month Master of Science program for students entering the job market with specialization pathways in data science, statistical genetics, or modeling and methods
• MS Thesis Program
• PhD Program
• Certificate in Biostatistics
• Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics
• Summer Institute in Statistics for Big Data (SISBID)

Products and services

• Master of Science (MS) Capstone Program An 18-month professional Master of Science degree program offering three specialization pathways (data science, statistical genetics, and modeling and methods) for students preparing for industry careers in biostatistics and data science.
• Master of Science (MS) Thesis Program Traditional research-focused Master of Science degree with a thesis option for students pursuing advanced study in biostatistical methodology.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program Doctoral program training students in advanced biostatistical methods, statistical genetics, and genomics research for academic and senior research careers. PhD students often receive funding packages including stipends and tuition remission.
• Certificate in Biostatistics Post-baccalaureate graduate-level certificate program providing foundational biostatistics training for working professionals seeking to upgrade skills in analytical fields.
• Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics Annual summer short-course program directed by Bruce Weir that provides intensive training in statistical genetics, including courses on infectious diseases and other specialized topics, attracting national and international participants.
• Summer Institute in Statistics for Big Data (SISBID) Annual summer institute directed by Ali Shojaie that introduces biologists and quantitative scientists to modern statistical techniques for analyzing biological big data.
• Center for Biomedical Statistics (CBS) A core facility directed by Patrick Heagerty that coordinates biostatistical collaboration across the Northwest region, conducts clinical trials, and houses data coordinating centers for various NIH-funded projects.
• Genetic Analysis Center (GAC) Research center directed by Bruce Weir providing statistical expertise for large research consortia, serving as Data Coordinating Center for the GREGoR Consortium studying rare genetic diseases and posting approximately 50 datasets for public use.
• Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center (CHSCC) Coordinating center supporting large-scale collaborative health studies with statistical design and data management expertise.
• UW Clinical Trials Center Data coordinating center for clinical trials, managing multi-site randomized trials in various therapeutic areas.
• Statistical Consulting Services Statistical consulting services provided to researchers and external partners, offering expertise in study design, data analysis, and statistical methodology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top-3 nationally ranked biostatistics program since at least 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research partnership where faculty hold joint appointments. Jingyi Jessica Li serves as Professor and Program Head at Fred Hutch. Multiple faculty are affiliate investigators. Collaborates on cancer research, HIV prevention trials, and computational biology.
• Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrea Cook serves as senior biostatistics investigator. Co-sponsors Seattle Symposium on Health Care Data Analytics. Collaborates on health services research and clinical trials.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple NIH institutes fund faculty research and centers. NIH Clinical Trials Center, GREGoR Consortium, and HPTN are among major collaborative networks. Patrick Heagerty serves on FDA Advisory Committees.
• Genomics Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare (GREGoR) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW Genetic Analysis Center serves as Data Coordinating Center for NHGRI-funded consortium with 300 investigators from five research centers. Faculty (Ali Shojaie, Guanghao Qi) lead data standards and analysis working groups.
• UW Center for Rare Disease Research (UW-CRDR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five GREGoR research centers. Part of Mendelian diseases research network advancing diagnosis and treatment for rare genetic conditions.
• University of Washington School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment is a division within the School of Public Health. Ranked #4 globally by ShanghaiRanking. Provides administrative infrastructure, shared resources, and interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities.
• University of Washington Department of StatisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on methodology research. PhD students in Statistics and Biostatistics take same core courses. Thomas Richardson (Statistics) shared Rousseeuw Prize with Andrea Rotnitzky.
• FDA Sentinel Innovation CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrick Heagerty serves on Executive Committee for FDA post-market drug safety surveillance system. Faculty provide leadership in methodology for real-world evidence.
• NIH Health Care Systems Research CollaboratorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment faculty direct Biostatistics and Research Design Core for NIH initiative on pragmatic clinical trials within healthcare systems.
• NIH Mental Health Research NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty provide biostatistical leadership for mental health research network conducting pragmatic trials across healthcare systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of North Carolina Gillings - Department of Biostatistics: Consistently top-ranked biostatistics program with parallel strengths in collaborative biostatistics, genetic analysis, and clinical trials. Direct peer for both graduate training and NIH-funded consortium leadership.
• Duke - Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics: Top biostatistics program with parallel offerings in biostatistics and bioinformatics, competing for NIH grants and top applicants. Direct peer in graduate training and clinical trials methodology.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School - Department of Biostatistics: Historically dominant biostatistics program offering comparable degree programs and shared methodology focus. Direct competitor for NIH funding and top applicants in statistical genetics and clinical trials.
• University of Michigan - Department of Biostatistics: Top-5 ranked biostatistics department with overlapping research strengths in statistical genetics, causal inference, and clinical trial methodology. Strong public-university peer competing for the same student and grant pool.
• Columbia Mailman School - Department of Biostatistics: Major biostatistics department at an Ivy League institution offering similar MS, PhD, and certificate programs. Competes for NIH grants, top faculty, and biostatistics applicants in the northeastern market.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - Department of Biostatistics: Top-ranked biostatistics department offering MS, PhD, and Certificate programs with parallel research strengths in causal inference, statistical genetics, and clinical trials. Direct peer in scale, ranking tier, and research mission.
• Emory Rollins School - Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics: Strong biostatistics department with bioinformatic integration, partnering with CDC and major Atlanta-based research institutions. Peer in graduate training and methodology development for public health.
• UC Berkeley - Division of Biostatistics: Top biostatistics training program with parallel methodology research in causal inference, high-dimensional statistics, and machine learning. Direct peer for top graduate applicants and federal funding.
• Stanford - Department of Biostatistics: Top-tier biostatistics program at a leading research university with strong methodology research and biotech ecosystem integration in the Bay Area. Competes with UW for faculty talent and methodology leadership.

Broad incumbents

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center - Biostatistics Program: Cancer-focused biostatistics research program with overlapping faculty and joint appointments with UW Biostatistics. Comparable in research output and NIH funding scale, with deeper specialization in oncology statistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uwbiostat
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcmHcOukR6y1Khvr9Hrs7Aw
• Facebookfacebook.com/uwbiost
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uw-biostatistics
• Instagraminstagram.com/uwbiost

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UW Department of Biostatistics