ISSUE

: CoViD-19 research has been subject to an unprecedented pace of clinical research efforts. With this also comes a high frequency of prolific failures, that diminishes the public’s confidence in research and slows the path from scientific results to action. Arguably, the most prolific research failures in CoViD-19 have come from studies using Real World Data (RWD). In areas such as oncology, RWD has been used with much success for over a decade and underlying know-how and technologies have evolved as researchers have learned from their mistakes. It is particularly surprising and concerning to see many of the CoViD-19 RWD research efforts make the same mistakes that were made in oncology this past decade. There is a wealth of experience and technology available for Real World studies that many CoViD-19 researchers may not be aware of, and it will be crucial for the world’s health to ensure that this capacity is adequately shared globally.

OVERVIEW

: This Panel will address the current shortcomings of Real World studies in CoViD-19 and how the experience and technologies already available in areas like oncology may aid to ensure the feasibility, validity and relevance of future CoViD-19 Real World studies. Key questions to be addressed are: What are the key challenges of logistics and data validity that currently exist in academic, non-for-profit, and commercially available CoViD-19 Real World Data; What are the technologies and processes that have or are being developed to address these issues and what are the realistic timelines? In this unprecedented research pace, what is the appropriate balance between retrospective and prospective data collection? Which technologies already exist for oncology Real World Data that have not adequately been utilized in CoViD-19 and what are the major reasons for this?