Dr. Andrew Vickers is a distinguished biostatistician and attending research methodologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he has established himself as a leading authority in medical statistics and research methodology. He joined MSKCC in 1999 as an assistant attending research methodologist, progressing to associate attending research methodologist in 2006 and achieving his current position as attending research methodologist in 2012. Since 2013, he has also held the position of Professor of Public Health at Weill Cornell Medical College, reflecting his significant contributions to academic medicine. Dr. Vickers earned his B.A. from the University of Cambridge in 1989 and completed his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford in 1999, establishing a foundation for his pioneering work at the intersection of statistics and clinical decision-making.
Dr. Vickers created decision curve analysis, now a standard statistical method for evaluating prediction models that has transformed how clinicians assess the clinical utility of diagnostic tests and predictive algorithms. He served as the statistician behind the 4Kscore test, the first laboratory test to provide predicted probability of disease that has become widely adopted in urologic practice to guide prostate biopsy decisions. His influential 2011 research demonstrated that PSA velocity is not a more accurate predictor of prostate cancer than simple PSA threshold comparisons, challenging established clinical practices and reshaping prostate cancer screening approaches. Dr. Vickers also published seminal work with Hans Lilja showing that a single PSA measurement at age 45-60 is an extremely strong predictor of long-term prostate cancer mortality risk, fundamentally changing perspectives on early prostate cancer detection.
As Co-Director of the PRO-CEL Core Facility, Dr. Vickers spearheads innovative initiatives integrating patient-reported outcomes into clinical care, developing methods that have become models for cancer centers worldwide. He leads the Amplio surgical quality assurance system at Memorial Sloan Kettering, creating efficient approaches to monitor surgical performance and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Vickers has a profound commitment to statistical education, authoring the highly regarded introductory textbook 'What is a p-value anyway?' that has made complex statistical concepts accessible to medical professionals and students. His ongoing research continues to refine prediction modeling techniques and streamline clinical trial methodologies, with his work consistently bridging the gap between sophisticated statistical theory and practical clinical applications that enhance evidence-based medical decision-making.
