The online Biostatistics seminars targets a broad (bio)statistical audience, in particular PhD-students. Specialists discuss a topic of their interest, paying particular attention to concepts relevant and accessible to a non-specialist audience as well.

Bart Mertens wil be our next speaker in the BMS-ANed online seminar series on June 22nd.

Title: Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) – A breakthrough computational innovation for biostatistics,  random effect and Bayesian modelling.

Abstract: INLA (Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation) is a breakthrough computational innovation in Bayesian statistics which can be applied  in a specific subclass of models. Fortunately, the subclass is so broad that most models routinely used within biostatistics or psychometry can be computed with the approach, while also allowing for important generalisations which were hitherto difficult to handle in statistical applications generally.  INLA is sure to have an impact far beyond Bayesian methodology therefor and set to revolutionize model formulation and analysis in statistics generally. In this talk I will commence with a birds-eye introductory overview of the INLA approach. I will start with some simple examples to introduce the software and then move on to discuss the more advanced key application areas where INLA can be put to good use. If time allows I will discuss one of these in more detail.

Further details are available here