Methods and Applications Group for Indirect Comparisons

In this proposal, we outline a strategy to merge 3 existing Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN) network meta-analysis (NMA) teams into one collaborative, efficient collaborating centre called the Methods and Applications Group for Indirect Comparisons (MAGIC). MAGIC includes investigators and collaborators from across Canada with internationally-acknowledged expertise in NMA and knowledge synthesis, including biostatistics; knowledge translation; health economics; pharmacoepidemiology; and pharmacogenomics. Our Collaborating Centre also includes clinical experts from a range of health care disciplines such as geriatric medicine, pediatric medicine, internal medicine and its subspecialties and primary care. Building on the success our previously funded NMA teams, we will work with Canadian policy makers to appropriately answer their questions about drug safety and effectiveness and these results will directly inform their decision making. We will improve pharmacovigilance in Canada using rigorous knowledge synthesis methods, and thereby strengthen the healthcare system and improve the health and wellness of Canadians.