Observational research in epidemic settings: a roadmap to reform

Emily E Ricotta; Fausto A Bustos Carrillo; Samuel Angelli-Nichols; John Barugahare; Adia Benton; Colin J Carlson; Emma Chang-Rabley; Natalie E Dean; Stephany N Duda; Lisa Federer; Mary-Margaret A Fill; Elizabeth C LeRoy; Natalie M Linton; Marc Lipsitch; Maya B Mathur; Alexandra L Phelan; Annette Rid; Jennifer B Rosen; Lauren Sauer; Sheena G Sullivan; Mackenzie Zendt; Nicholas Evans

doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017981

Observational research in epidemic settings: a roadmap to reform

Emily E Ricotta, Fausto A Bustos Carrillo, Samuel Angelli-Nichols, John Barugahare, Adia Benton, Colin J Carlson, Emma Chang-Rabley, Natalie E Dean, Stephany N Duda, Lisa Federer, Mary-Margaret A Fill, Elizabeth C LeRoy, Natalie M Linton, Marc Lipsitch, Maya B Mathur, Alexandra L Phelan, Annette Rid, Jennifer B Rosen, Lauren Sauer, Sheena G SullivanMackenzie Zendt, Nicholas Evans

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Observational studies are critical tools in clinical research and public health response, but challenges arise in ensuring the data produced by these studies are scientifically robust and socially valuable. Resolving these challenges requires careful attention to prioritising the most valuable research questions, ensuring robust study design, strong data management practices, expansive community engagement, and access and benefit sharing of results and research materials. This paper opens with a discussion of how well-designed observational studies contribute to biomedical evidence and provides examples from across the clinical literature of how these methods generate hypotheses for future research and uncover otherwise unattainable insights by providing examples from across the clinical literature. Then, we present obstacles that remain in ensuring observational studies are optimally designed, conducted and communicated.

Original language	English
Journal	BMJ Global Health
Volume	10
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017981
State	Published - 10 Feb 2025

Keywords

Humans
Biomedical Research
Epidemics
Observational Studies as Topic/methods
Public Health
Research Design

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017981

Cite this

Ricotta, E. E., Bustos Carrillo, F. A., Angelli-Nichols, S., Barugahare, J., Benton, A., Carlson, C. J., Chang-Rabley, E., Dean, N. E., Duda, S. N., Federer, L., Fill, M.-M. A., LeRoy, E. C., Linton, N. M., Lipsitch, M., Mathur, M. B., Phelan, A. L., Rid, A., Rosen, J. B., Sauer, L., ... Evans, N. (2025). Observational research in epidemic settings: a roadmap to reform. BMJ Global Health, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017981

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abstract = "Observational studies are critical tools in clinical research and public health response, but challenges arise in ensuring the data produced by these studies are scientifically robust and socially valuable. Resolving these challenges requires careful attention to prioritising the most valuable research questions, ensuring robust study design, strong data management practices, expansive community engagement, and access and benefit sharing of results and research materials. This paper opens with a discussion of how well-designed observational studies contribute to biomedical evidence and provides examples from across the clinical literature of how these methods generate hypotheses for future research and uncover otherwise unattainable insights by providing examples from across the clinical literature. Then, we present obstacles that remain in ensuring observational studies are optimally designed, conducted and communicated.",

keywords = "Humans, Biomedical Research, Epidemics, Observational Studies as Topic/methods, Public Health, Research Design",

author = "Ricotta, {Emily E} and {Bustos Carrillo}, {Fausto A} and Samuel Angelli-Nichols and John Barugahare and Adia Benton and Carlson, {Colin J} and Emma Chang-Rabley and Dean, {Natalie E} and Duda, {Stephany N} and Lisa Federer and Fill, {Mary-Margaret A} and LeRoy, {Elizabeth C} and Linton, {Natalie M} and Marc Lipsitch and Mathur, {Maya B} and Phelan, {Alexandra L} and Annette Rid and Rosen, {Jennifer B} and Lauren Sauer and Sullivan, {Sheena G} and Mackenzie Zendt and Nicholas Evans",

note = "{\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.",

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Ricotta, EE, Bustos Carrillo, FA, Angelli-Nichols, S, Barugahare, J, Benton, A, Carlson, CJ, Chang-Rabley, E, Dean, NE, Duda, SN, Federer, L, Fill, M-MA, LeRoy, EC, Linton, NM, Lipsitch, M, Mathur, MB, Phelan, AL, Rid, A, Rosen, JB, Sauer, L, Sullivan, SG, Zendt, M & Evans, N 2025, 'Observational research in epidemic settings: a roadmap to reform', BMJ Global Health, vol. 10, no. 2. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017981

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AU - Ricotta, Emily E

AU - Bustos Carrillo, Fausto A

AU - Angelli-Nichols, Samuel

AU - Barugahare, John

AU - Benton, Adia

AU - Carlson, Colin J

AU - Chang-Rabley, Emma

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AU - Duda, Stephany N

AU - Federer, Lisa

AU - Fill, Mary-Margaret A

AU - LeRoy, Elizabeth C

AU - Linton, Natalie M

AU - Lipsitch, Marc

AU - Mathur, Maya B

AU - Phelan, Alexandra L

AU - Rid, Annette

AU - Rosen, Jennifer B

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AU - Zendt, Mackenzie

AU - Evans, Nicholas

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