Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Projects: A practical introduction for healthcare research (Online) Non-credit

Why are IPD meta-analysis projects important?

Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis projects are increasingly being funded and initiated, and their findings are influencing clinical practice. 

These projects have the potential to:

• Optimise use of existing data
• Improve the quality and scope of evidence synthesis projects
• Examine the influence of participant-level characteristics on outcomes
• Inform a more personalised approach to healthcare

Why should you attend this course?

Despite their many benefits, IPD meta-analyses of randomised trials are challenging, time consuming, and require a broad set of methods and skills. This two-day online course uses a combination of talks, interactive activities, external speakers, and one-to-one ‘meet the expert sessions’ to improve your knowledge and skills in the design and practical delivery of IPD meta-analysis projects. It covers the steps involved and will help you decide whether an IPD meta-analysis is likely to be worth the investment. Whilst examples focus on clinical trials, the course will also be relevant for other types of IPD meta-analyses.

Course dates: 

• 23-24 September 2025

Course content:

Specific topics included in the course are:

• The what, why and when of IPD meta-analyses
• Selection and retrieval of IPD
• Issues involved in data transfer, cleaning, and harmonisation
• Quality and risk of bias assessments
• Statistical approaches to IPD meta-analysis
• Power calculations: How much IPD is enough?
• Reporting and dissemination

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Have a deep understanding of what an IPD meta-analysis is, and the types of research questions it can address.
• Know when and why to conduct an IPD meta-analysis rather than a traditional systematic review and meta-analysis of (published) aggregate data, or a primary study with new data collection.
• Be fully aware of the ethical and governance issues involved in IPD meta-analysis projects.
• Understand the fundamental steps involved in completion of an IPD meta-analysis project, including: identification of relevant studies; selection of IPD and variables for analyses; obtaining IPD; examining data quality and risk of bias; data cleaning and checking; harmonising IPD; and merging data for analyses.
• Know how to calculate the potential power of an IPD meta-analysis to address the research question(s) of interest.
• Understand the basic principles of fundamental approaches to IPD meta-analysis; specifically, differences in 1-stage and 2-stage approaches, why they may differ, and when each should be used.
• Know how to ensure timely dissemination of IPD meta-analyses and adhere to reporting guidelines.
• Know how to critically appraise published IPD meta-analyses.

Place availability:

• 50 places

Course results:

Certificate of completion confirming hours of study

Who should attend?

This course is intended for a broad audience of statisticians and non-statisticians, including:

• Healthcare researchers,
• Study/data managers,
• Funders,
• Journal editors,
• Clinicians,
• Students,
• Others who are involved in the delivery, appraisal, and/or interpretation of IPD meta-analyses

• Students - £300
• Academic - £400
• Industry - £500

Registration is open, you can register for the course using a debit/credit card on the university's online shop. The courses have minimum required attendance levels and the University reserves the right to cancel or postpone the course if the minimum required number of delegates has not been achieved for the course.

If you have any queries, please email cmhcpdenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

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