Research projects
Investigators in the Evidence-Based Practice Research Program have conducted hundreds of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to support decision-making and clinical practice guidelines by numerous agencies, foundations and professional societies.
Systematic reviews
Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people and an escalating public health crisis. We conducted a systematic review of interventions that address suicide risk in children.
Read our review: Suicide interventions for youths: A systematic review.
Methodology studies
Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a diagnostic test and are not expected to change as the prevalence of the target condition changes. Our study demonstrates an unexpected association with prevalence. This work aims to improve future diagnostic studies.
Read our study: The association of sensitivity and specificity with disease prevalence: Analysis of 6909 studies of diagnostic test accuracy.
Clinical practice guidelines
Our program has supported the development of numerous national and international guidelines through the years. One example is the 2025 guideline from the Endocrine Society about managing diabetes in pregnancy.
Read our review: Preexisting diabetes and pregnancy: An Endocrine Society and European Society of Endocrinology Joint Clinical Practice Guideline.
Emulated trials
Migraine is a common debilitating condition often treated with triptans. These medicines work well but may not be safe in people with heart conditions. Since these people are not included in clinical trials, we emulated a clinical trial using data from the electronic health record.
Read our study: Safety of triptans in patients who have or are at high risk for cardiovascular disease: A target trial emulation.
Living and automated systematic reviews
We study how artificial intelligence and other automation tools can make the process of a systematic review automated, fast and efficient. This work is led by Irbaz B. Riaz, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Read our perspective: Future of evidence synthesis: Automated, living, and interactive systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Read one of our systematic reviews conducted following this approach: First-line systemic treatment options for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: A living systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Tools to support decision-making
Evidence summarized in systematic reviews requires tools to facilitate implementation. We developed two tools to improve the care of children with anxiety and to translate the results of the systematic review. One tool is for patients and clinicians and the other is for health systems.