Current Research Interests

Dr. Vickers has conducted extensive methodologic and empirical research in clinical trials, patient-reported outcomes, prediction modelling and molecular markers. He developed novel, streamlined, trial methodologies that have allowed large randomized trials to be conducted at very low cost; spearheaded methods for adapting patient-reported outcomes instruments into clinical care; created decision curve analysis, now a routine statistical method for the evaluation of prediction models; was the statistician behind the 4Kscore, the first laboratory test to give a predicted probability of disease, and which is in wide use in urologic practice to inform decisions about prostate biopsy. A particular focus of Dr. Vickers’ work is the detection and initial treatment of prostate cancer, having published on the prognostic value of baseline PSA, the surgical learning curve, PSA velocity, MRI-targeting, Gleason grading and active surveillance. Dr Vickers has a strong interest in teaching statistics. He is course leader for the MSK biostatistics course and is author of the introductory textbook “What is a p-value anyway?”. Dr. Vickers spearheads a number of innovative informatics initiatives throughout MSK, including patient-reported outcomes, part of his work as Co-Director of the PRO-CEL Core Facility, and the Amplio surgical quality assurance system.