Session (CTI)

ISSUE: While R-based modeling has gained traction in the HEOR community for its flexibility, reproducibility, and computational efficiency, HTA agencies continue to favor Excel-based models due to their transparency and auditability. This divergence creates tension between innovation and regulatory tradition. A practical question arises: Can R serve both worlds—developing robust models while outputting transparent Excel workbooks for HTA review? Can such hybrid models be truly accepted by HTA agencies? How do we ensure traceability and audit trails in generated Excel files? And what are the best practices for implementing this dual approach? OVERVIEW: This panel will explore whether R can serve as the engine to generate Excel models that are both technically advanced and regulatorily compliant. (5 min) Deepika Thakur will introduce the session and set the context for the ongoing debate between R-based and Excel-based modeling practices in HTA (12 min) Karam Diaby will explain the foundational mechanics of developing HE models in R that programmatically produce Excel models, highlighting real-world applications and benefits (12 min) Shubhram Pandey will deep-dive into workflows involving R Shiny and how they can be used to deliver interactive Excel-compatible outputs suitable for HTA submissions (12 min) Prof. Howard Thom will reflect on HTA bodies’ expectations and whether R-generated Excel models could be seen as transparent, traceable, and submission-worthy Following these presentations, there will be a 15-minute audience Q&A and discussion period, offering attendees actionable insights on balancing the analytical power of R with the regulatory demand for transparency and traceability in Excel-based HTA submissions.