Infectious diseases epidemiology, quantitative methodology, and clinical research in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspective from a European country

Geert Molenberghs, Marc Buyse, Steven Abrams, Niel Hens, Philippe Beutels, Ingrid Van Keilegom () and Catherine Legrand ()
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Ingrid Van Keilegom: Université catholique de Louvain, LIDAM/ISBA, Belgium
Catherine Legrand: Université catholique de Louvain, LIDAM/ISBA, Belgium

No 2020041, LIDAM Reprints ISBA from Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (ISBA)

Abstract: Starting from historic reflections, the current SARS-CoV-2 induced COVID-19 pandemic is examined from various perspectives, in terms of what it implies for the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions, the modeling and monitoring of the epidemic, the development of early-warning systems, the study of mortality, prevalence estimation, diagnostic and serological testing, vaccine development, and ultimately clinical trials. Emphasis is placed on how the pandemic had led to unprecedented speed in methodological and clinical development, the pitfalls thereof, but also the opportunities that it engenders for national and international collaboration, and how it has simplified and sped up procedures. We also study the impact of the pandemic on clinical trials in other indications. We note that it has placed biostatistics, epidemiology, virology, infectiology, and vaccinology, and related fields in the spotlight in an unprecedented way, implying great opportunities, but also the need to communicate effectively, often amidst controversy.

Keywords: Pharmacology (medical); General Medicine; SARS-CoV-2; Antiviral therapy; Diagnostic testing; Mortality; Infection fatality rate; Nowcasting; Prevalence; Non-pharmaceutical intervention; Mathematical epidemiology; Mathematical modeling; Vaccine development; Pragmatic trials; Factorial designs; Platform trials; Data sharing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-01-01
Note: In: Contemporary Clinical Trials, Vol. 99, p. 106189 (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aiz:louvar:2020041

DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106189

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