simmrd: An open-source tool to perform simulations in Mendelian randomization.

Area of Science:

• Biostatistics
• Genetic Epidemiology
• Causal Inference

Background:

• Mendelian randomization (MR) is widely used for inferring causal relationships between risk factors and diseases.
• The field has seen rapid growth, with over 45 distinct MR methods currently available.
• A standardized simulation environment is needed to objectively assess these methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce simmrd, an open-source software designed for simulating Mendelian randomization scenarios.
• To provide a flexible platform for evaluating the performance of existing and novel MR methods.
• To facilitate the development of a widely accepted framework for MR method evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Development of simmrd, an open-source simulation software.
• Implementation of various simulation scenarios relevant to practical MR applications.
• Facilitation of direct modification of the source code by researchers.

Main Results:

• simmrd enables objective performance evaluation of Mendelian randomization methods.
• The software supports a range of practical simulation scenarios.
• Open-source nature encourages community-driven refinement and standardization.

Conclusions:

• simmrd offers a valuable tool for the Mendelian randomization research community.
• It promotes standardized and objective evaluation of MR methods.
• The software has the potential to become a widely adopted framework for assessing causal inference techniques.