YSPH Biostatistics Seminar- “The Brave New World of Real-World Data”

Note: BIS 526 students are required to attend in person. Others are invited to attend in person but may also attend via zoom.

Speaker Dr. Rebecca A. Hubbard

Title: “The Brave New World of Real-World Data”

Abstract

Real-world data (RWD) are ubiquitous, creating exciting opportunities to advance science and society through data-driven decision-making. However, data quality and availability vary across populations and settings, creating significant risks of bias. In this talk, I will highlight examples where evidence from clinical trials and epidemiological cohorts can be augmented with RWD to enhance both the timeliness and generalizability of findings, and I will describe statistical and design-based strategies to harness the potential of RWD while safeguarding reliability. I will discuss approaches for extending evidence from randomized trials to trial-ineligible populations, hybrid controlled trial designs that integrate RCT and RWD components, and methods that combine RWD with deeply characterized epidemiological cohorts to address data quality limitations. Illustrations from cancer and aging research will highlight the opportunities and pitfalls of this evolving evidence ecosystem and emphasize that the contribution of RWD to evidence-based decision making rests on the rigor of the methods with which they are analyzed.