Causal inference tools to study vaccines using real-world data: how can we make better use of negative control outcomes?

Project Code

MRCPHS25Ba McDonald

Research Theme

Population Health Sciences

Project Summary Download

Summary

“Vaccination saves lives!

Observational vaccine studies are important to assess real-world effectiveness and safety, but people who receive vaccines differ from those who do not, so confounding is a major challenge. Negative control outcomes, which share the same confounding structures as the outcome but are not related to vaccination, have the potential to identify and address confounding.

This PhD will develop and test negative control outcomes for vaccine safety or effectiveness studies and demonstrate their use in a study using electronic health records. This will improve research methods to support evidence-based policy-making and public trust in vaccine research.”

Lead Supervisor

Dr Helen McDonald

Lead Supervisor Email

him24@bath.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Bath