We were pleased that the Round 1 review was so positive about the proposal's emphasis on opportunities to work with other faculty on campus interested in statistical and quantitative issues. The reviewer also asked for clarification on two questions. We responded in the revised proposal, but to summarize: 1. "Could better describe how it will relate to other units on campus". The proposal now provides far more detail about these relationships. Because statistics is transdisciplinary, it contributes to all themes that involve gathering and analyzing data. 2. "Could better describe its role as a service to the university versus a research arm." We have clarified throughout that this proposal aims towards both ends, but more towards research than service. Like all such proposals in a research-oriented university, this proposal aims primarily to improve research. However, contingent on the provision of dedicated funding, those involved in this proposal would be interested in increasing the service capacity for statistical consulting and survey research on campus. We have been approached by other proposed themes to support them. We have always agree to this because it is the nature of statistical and quantitative research that it crosses many thematic boundaries. Limiting our proposal to one theme (e.g., data enabled science and engineering) would hinder our ability to respond to other thematic needs (e.g., human health).

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