Living Systematic Review

A living systematic review of COVID-19 clinical trials

 

Based on the Living Systematic Review developed by IDDO and supported by the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition, you can now explore registered COVID-19 clinical trials from around the world in a frequently updated, open-access database. A visualization tool helps researchers identify ongoing trials, spot knowledge gaps to explore in future studies, and avoid duplication.

Open tool

Since the first COVID-19 outbreak was identified in December 2019, a strong response from the research community has resulted in many independent trials assessing therapeutics, diagnostic tools, vaccines and many other areas.

Traditional systematic reviews tend to be a snapshot of a situation and can be outdated quite quickly. Uniquely, here IDDO focuses more widely on a whole research landscape using a living systematic review approach to continuously identify knowledge gaps and inform future analyses (read the protocol for more on the methodology). The latest analysis of the Living Systematic Review is available on Wellcome Open Research. The first analysis, published in 2020, is also available. A visualization tool is frequently updated to include the constant tracking of studies. It focuses on therapeutic interventions and:

  • Enables users to pull together and access information on global COVID-19 trials;
  • Details the study design, sample size, trial phase, and the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) administered, study location, and whether individual patient data (IPD) will be shared; and
  • Is updated via a quarterly search and standardization of the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

Browse the visualization tool to explore the COVID-19 Living Systematic Review, or the COVID-19 Clinical Data Inventory

The tool showcases the metadata available using three different types of visualizations: geography, lists, and analytics incorporating descriptive statistical information. Filter and search options pinpoint research according to selected variables and studies of interest. Researchers have the option to compare studies within the tool and data can also be exported for subsequent analysis.

As highlighted in our earlier analysis and its protocol , innovative tools like these are key to preventing unnecessary duplication of independent research efforts.

How to use IDDO Living Systematic Review visualization tool

 

Watch the video on the left to find out more about the tool, how to view the types and volumes of data available, explore how the data can apply to your research question, and request access to the data.

 

IDDO is a founding member of the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition, which was formed in April 2020 to build collaborative solutions and accelerate priority research on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 in resource-limited settings, and advocate for equitable access to proven interventions. The Coalition supported IDDO’s work on the living systematic review.

The COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition has since August 2023 progressed into CERCLE to continue its mission with an expanded scope beyond COVID-19.

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We are looking for dedicated individuals and institutions who are eager to contribute their expertise and commitment to fast-track research in infectious diseases with potential for epidemics and pandemics, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specific to low-resource settings.

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