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Updated: May 2, 2026

Establishment of a Clinic-based Biorepository
Published on: May 29, 2017
Making prospective registration of observational research a reality
Rafael Dal-Ré1, John P Ioannidis, Michael B Bracken
1Clinical Research Program, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
The vast majority of health-related observational studies are not prospectively registered and the advantages of registration have not been fully appreciated. Nonetheless, international standards require approval of study protocols by an independent ethics committee before the study can begin. We suggest that there is an ethical and scientific imperative to publicly preregister key information from newly approved protocols, which should be required by funders. Ultimately, more complete information may be publicly available by disclosing protocols, analysis plans, data sets, and raw data.
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