Brennan Kahan
@brennankahan.bsky.social
Principal Research Fellow in Medical Statistics at MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL. Clinical trials, estimands, estimation.
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=Lf0jsXAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=Lf0jsXAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
NEW PAPER: "Reporting guidelines for studies involving generative artificial intelligence applications: what do I use, and when?"
--> www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#HealthTech #ClinicalAI #MachineLearning #MedAI #AIinMedicine #TransparentAI #HealthInnovation #GenAI
--> www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#HealthTech #ClinicalAI #MachineLearning #MedAI #AIinMedicine #TransparentAI #HealthInnovation #GenAI
November 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
NEW PAPER: "Reporting guidelines for studies involving generative artificial intelligence applications: what do I use, and when?"
--> www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#HealthTech #ClinicalAI #MachineLearning #MedAI #AIinMedicine #TransparentAI #HealthInnovation #GenAI
--> www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#HealthTech #ClinicalAI #MachineLearning #MedAI #AIinMedicine #TransparentAI #HealthInnovation #GenAI
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
The term #estimand is now part of the technical language of trials - but it remains a concept that many find hard to understand. Recent work has aimed to make the term more accessible to researchers, patients & public 1/8
#MethodologyMonday #127
#MethodologyMonday #127
November 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
The term #estimand is now part of the technical language of trials - but it remains a concept that many find hard to understand. Recent work has aimed to make the term more accessible to researchers, patients & public 1/8
#MethodologyMonday #127
#MethodologyMonday #127
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
NEW paper "Clinical prediction models using machine learning in oncology: challenges and recommendations"
--> tinyurl.com/2h2mcy5h
#machinelearning #prediction #statssky #MLsky #methodsmatter
--> tinyurl.com/2h2mcy5h
#machinelearning #prediction #statssky #MLsky #methodsmatter
October 30, 2025 at 8:38 AM
NEW paper "Clinical prediction models using machine learning in oncology: challenges and recommendations"
--> tinyurl.com/2h2mcy5h
#machinelearning #prediction #statssky #MLsky #methodsmatter
--> tinyurl.com/2h2mcy5h
#machinelearning #prediction #statssky #MLsky #methodsmatter
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
📢 New publication in #Trials led by @suziecro.bsky.social with the HEALTHY STATS public involvement group: Supporting public involvement in defining estimands: a practical tool accessibly explaining the five key attributes of an estimand trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Supporting public involvement in defining estimands: a practical tool accessibly explaining the five key attributes of an estimand - Trials
Background An estimand is a precise description of the treatment effect a trial is aiming to find out. We previously identified that public partners (defined as patients and/or members of the public w...
trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:36 PM
📢 New publication in #Trials led by @suziecro.bsky.social with the HEALTHY STATS public involvement group: Supporting public involvement in defining estimands: a practical tool accessibly explaining the five key attributes of an estimand trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
We're excited to share our latest work on estimands in clinical trials!
📄 Estimating treatment effects in trials with outcome data truncated by death: A case study on aligning estimators with estimands.
🔗 Read the full paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
📄 Estimating treatment effects in trials with outcome data truncated by death: A case study on aligning estimators with estimands.
🔗 Read the full paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM
We're excited to share our latest work on estimands in clinical trials!
📄 Estimating treatment effects in trials with outcome data truncated by death: A case study on aligning estimators with estimands.
🔗 Read the full paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
📄 Estimating treatment effects in trials with outcome data truncated by death: A case study on aligning estimators with estimands.
🔗 Read the full paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
Want to come work on SNAP, BALANCE+, and STRAP? And change how we treat and manage bloodstream infections? See below. #IDSky
We are looking for candidates for a new fully-funded joint PhD position at the Universities of Toronto and Melbourne, working on RCTs in bloodstream infection (BALANCE+, SNAP, STRAP).
More info here: forms.gle/H9TXEMkwM1cb...
Please spread far and wide!
@steventong.bsky.social #IDSky
More info here: forms.gle/H9TXEMkwM1cb...
Please spread far and wide!
@steventong.bsky.social #IDSky
forms.gle
October 27, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Want to come work on SNAP, BALANCE+, and STRAP? And change how we treat and manage bloodstream infections? See below. #IDSky
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
📢 Interested in a PhD in clinical trials methodology? The Trials Methodology Research Partnership are advertising projects for PhDs starting Oct 2026, in statistics, health economics, epidemiology, social science, and more, hosted at one of 12 UK partner institutions.
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
Current Opportunities
We have an iCASE studentship available to start for the 2025/2026 academic year, and applications to our fifth round of recruitment to our DTP to start in October 2026 are now also open. Please see…
mrctmrpdtp.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
📢 Interested in a PhD in clinical trials methodology? The Trials Methodology Research Partnership are advertising projects for PhDs starting Oct 2026, in statistics, health economics, epidemiology, social science, and more, hosted at one of 12 UK partner institutions.
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
October 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
🎓 Thinking about a PhD in clinical trial #methodology?
We have two funded PhD opportunities for students passionate about trial design and statistical methods:
• One in estimands
• One in non-inferiority trials
🔗 More info and how to apply here: buff.ly/lCpqcF6
@mrcnihrtmrp.bsky.social
We have two funded PhD opportunities for students passionate about trial design and statistical methods:
• One in estimands
• One in non-inferiority trials
🔗 More info and how to apply here: buff.ly/lCpqcF6
@mrcnihrtmrp.bsky.social
Current Opportunities
We have an iCASE studentship available to start for the 2025/2026 academic year, and applications to our fifth round of recruitment to our DTP to start in October 2026 are now also open. Please see…
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
🎓 Thinking about a PhD in clinical trial #methodology?
We have two funded PhD opportunities for students passionate about trial design and statistical methods:
• One in estimands
• One in non-inferiority trials
🔗 More info and how to apply here: buff.ly/lCpqcF6
@mrcnihrtmrp.bsky.social
We have two funded PhD opportunities for students passionate about trial design and statistical methods:
• One in estimands
• One in non-inferiority trials
🔗 More info and how to apply here: buff.ly/lCpqcF6
@mrcnihrtmrp.bsky.social
New PhD position available at @mrcctu.bsky.social to develop guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations when choosing an estimand in RCTs.
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Optimising the choice of estimand in randomised trials: developing guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations to ensure results matter to stakeholders at University College London o...
PhD Project - Optimising the choice of estimand in randomised trials: developing guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations to ensure results matter to stakeholders at University Co...
www.findaphd.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
New PhD position available at @mrcctu.bsky.social to develop guidance on balancing statistical and clinical considerations when choosing an estimand in RCTs.
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
The recording of this webinar is now available on the @nihr-rss.bsky.social YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNz...
October 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The recording of this webinar is now available on the @nihr-rss.bsky.social YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNz...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
Lots of feedback and engagement after this session. Some gentle push-back still: "But what if there's even just a *perception* from sites that a stepped wedge is preferable?" 🧵
The recording of this webinar is now available on the @nihr-rss.bsky.social YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNz...
October 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Lots of feedback and engagement after this session. Some gentle push-back still: "But what if there's even just a *perception* from sites that a stepped wedge is preferable?" 🧵
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
A scoping review identified additional considerations for defining estimands in cluster randomised trials - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
A scoping review identified additional considerations for defining estimands in cluster randomised trials
An estimand is a clear description of the treatment effect a study aims to quantify.
The ICH E9(R1) addendum lists five attributes that should be described when defining
an estimand. However, the adde...
www.jclinepi.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A scoping review identified additional considerations for defining estimands in cluster randomised trials - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
Introductory online INSPECT-SR workshop. November 6th, 12-2pm UK-time. Free, places limited. BOOK: www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...
Introduction to INSPECT-SR Training Workshop November
An introductory 2-hour online workshop will introduce participants to the INSPECT-SR tool for assessing trustworthiness of randomised controlled...
www.trybooking.com
October 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Introductory online INSPECT-SR workshop. November 6th, 12-2pm UK-time. Free, places limited. BOOK: www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
The number needed to treat: It is time to bow out gracefully - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
The number needed to treat: It is time to bow out gracefully
The number needed to treat (NNT) has statistical and methodological limitations that
make it unhelpful in the context of developing clinical practice guidelines and policy
decisions.It is not unusual ...
www.jclinepi.com
August 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The number needed to treat: It is time to bow out gracefully - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
There has been a lot of debate recently about the promise of real world data - the routine (observational) data collected on patients eg treatments received, clinical outcomes etc – for estimating treatment effects. But can they deliver? 1/9
#MethodologyMonday #123
#MethodologyMonday #123
August 18, 2025 at 6:35 AM
There has been a lot of debate recently about the promise of real world data - the routine (observational) data collected on patients eg treatments received, clinical outcomes etc – for estimating treatment effects. But can they deliver? 1/9
#MethodologyMonday #123
#MethodologyMonday #123
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
Improving the design of staggered implementation cluster randomised trials qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/earl...
Grand rounds in methodology: improving the design of staggered implementation cluster randomised trials
The stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial is a popular design in implementation and health services research. All clusters, such as clinics or hospitals, start in the control state, and gradually swi...
qualitysafety.bmj.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Improving the design of staggered implementation cluster randomised trials qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/earl...
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
We often now hear the term “Bayesian borrowing” in trials. But what is Bayesian borrowing and what are the pros and cons around its use? 1/6
#MethodologyMonday #122
#MethodologyMonday #122
July 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
We often now hear the term “Bayesian borrowing” in trials. But what is Bayesian borrowing and what are the pros and cons around its use? 1/6
#MethodologyMonday #122
#MethodologyMonday #122
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
NEW PAPER in @bmj.com "Dealing with continuous variables and modelling non-linear associations in healthcare data: practical guide"
--> www.bmj.com/content/390/...
#methodologymatters #StatsSky #EpiSky
--> www.bmj.com/content/390/...
#methodologymatters #StatsSky #EpiSky
July 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM
NEW PAPER in @bmj.com "Dealing with continuous variables and modelling non-linear associations in healthcare data: practical guide"
--> www.bmj.com/content/390/...
#methodologymatters #StatsSky #EpiSky
--> www.bmj.com/content/390/...
#methodologymatters #StatsSky #EpiSky
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
What's that? The target trial emulation obtained the same answer as the RCT? Wow, I guess RCTs are generalisable after all! Perhaps we should perform them rather than using interventions on hundreds of thousands of people before we know whether or not they work, then doing a TTE?
July 9, 2025 at 9:27 AM
What's that? The target trial emulation obtained the same answer as the RCT? Wow, I guess RCTs are generalisable after all! Perhaps we should perform them rather than using interventions on hundreds of thousands of people before we know whether or not they work, then doing a TTE?
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
Reckon I can submit this as a figure for a paper?
July 9, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Reckon I can submit this as a figure for a paper?
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
New post: “Marginal” and “conditional” are relative descriptions of an estimand
July 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
New post: “Marginal” and “conditional” are relative descriptions of an estimand
New paper posted on Arxiv: "When do composite estimands answer non-causal questions?"
This can happen more often than you think, and can have a dramatic impact on trial results (e.g. a false-positive rate of almost 90%)
arxiv.org/abs/2506.22610 @timpmorris.bsky.social
This can happen more often than you think, and can have a dramatic impact on trial results (e.g. a false-positive rate of almost 90%)
arxiv.org/abs/2506.22610 @timpmorris.bsky.social
When do composite estimands answer non-causal questions?
Under a composite estimand strategy, the occurrence of the intercurrent event is incorporated into the endpoint definition, for instance by assigning a poor outcome value to patients who experience th...
arxiv.org
July 1, 2025 at 9:31 AM
New paper posted on Arxiv: "When do composite estimands answer non-causal questions?"
This can happen more often than you think, and can have a dramatic impact on trial results (e.g. a false-positive rate of almost 90%)
arxiv.org/abs/2506.22610 @timpmorris.bsky.social
This can happen more often than you think, and can have a dramatic impact on trial results (e.g. a false-positive rate of almost 90%)
arxiv.org/abs/2506.22610 @timpmorris.bsky.social
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
The CONSORT 2025 Statement is here. Essential reading for those involved in the reporting & reviewing of randomized trials.
We're proud to see so many #UKCTUNetwork units & individual researchers contributing to this crucial update!
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3cbh33
#CONSORT2025 #ResearchTransparency
We're proud to see so many #UKCTUNetwork units & individual researchers contributing to this crucial update!
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3cbh33
#CONSORT2025 #ResearchTransparency
CONSORT 2025 Statement
This Special Communication introduces the updated Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2025 statement, which includes substantive and structural changes to account for recent methodolo...
jamanetwork.com
June 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM
The CONSORT 2025 Statement is here. Essential reading for those involved in the reporting & reviewing of randomized trials.
We're proud to see so many #UKCTUNetwork units & individual researchers contributing to this crucial update!
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3cbh33
#CONSORT2025 #ResearchTransparency
We're proud to see so many #UKCTUNetwork units & individual researchers contributing to this crucial update!
🔗 tinyurl.com/yc3cbh33
#CONSORT2025 #ResearchTransparency
Reposted by Brennan Kahan
Would like to add… there are guidelines for all types of studies… www.equator-network.org/reporting-gu...
June 16, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Would like to add… there are guidelines for all types of studies… www.equator-network.org/reporting-gu...