"Methodology that stands the test"​​​

 

Methods for Evaluating Models, Tests And Biomarkers (MEMTAB)

7th International Conference

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**** NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION, PRE-CONFERENCE COURSE BOOKING & ABSTRACT SUBMISSION ****

(ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY 17th JANUARY)

 

Details:

• 29th April: pre-conference courses, followed by welcome reception

• 30th April: conference day 1, followed by evening meal and entertainment

• 1st May: conference day 2

 

Location:

University of Birmingham (main campus), Edgbaston, UK.

 

Accommodation:

On campus: Edgbaston Park Hotel

Many other options in and around Edgbaston & Birmingham City Centre

 

Description:

MEMTAB is the leading international conference about methods to evaluate models, tests and biomarkers for clinical practice and healthcare. It aims to debate and disseminate novel methods for producing reliable models, tests and biomarkers that improve the screening, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and monitoring of patients. The conference is relevant to all types of researchers and stakeholders working in the field, including those in academia, healthcare, industry and organisations aiming for high methodological standards.

 

In 2025, for our 7th international conference, we return to the University of Birmingham and raise the conference theme: "Methodology that stands the test"

 

We want participants to push our understanding of what constitutes the methodology and evidence needed to produce models, tests and biomarkers that can be reliably endorsed, communicated and deployed in practice.

 

*** Abstract submission, registration & course booking is OPEN HERE ****

 

Topics:

The conference focuses on methodology for models, tests and biomarkers.​​

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Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):​

• study design (including sample size, sources of data, reporting, open science) 

• early-phase research and analytic performance of lab-based tests 

• assessing impact and effectiveness on clinical practice and patient outcomes 

• evaluation, quality appraisal (risk of bias), regulation and implementation 

• novel approaches including machine learning, (generative) AI, large language models (LLMs), counterfactual prediction & uncertainty quantification 

• education and communication of evidence, including to policy makers, commissioners, regulators, patients and public 

• screening and early diagnosis  

• emerging technologies including multi-condition tests and self-tests  

• examining and improving (algorithmic) fairness and generalisability  

• clinical pathways for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring 

• systematic reviews & meta-analyses, especially using individual participant data 

• health economics, decision analysis and health technology assessment 

• patients and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) within methods research 

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​Pre-conference courses (29th April 2025)

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Each course will last the whole day and is open to those registering for the conference

 

(1) An Introduction to Clinical Prediction Models and Sample Size Calculations for Model Development & Evaluation

 

Clinical prediction models are used to estimate an individual’s risk of a health-related outcome to help guide patient counselling and clinical decision making. Examples include QRISK, which is widely used in the UK during primary care consultations to estimate a person’s 10-year cardiovascular disease risk. 

  

In this course, participants will be provided with an introduction to clinical prediction models and how to improve standards, which currently are often poor. A pathway will be described from model development to model evaluation and impact assessment.  

 

We then focus primarily on sample size calculations for model development and evaluation. We introduce the theory behind existing and emerging approaches, and showcase the pmsampsize, pmstabilityss and pmvalsampsize packages in Stata and R that implement them. Hands-on practicals are included, and participants will be supported by a dedicated and experienced faculty. Participants are required to bring their own laptop with either R or Stata installed. 

 

Faculty includes: Dr Joie Ensor, Dr Kym Snell, Dr Lucy Archer, Dr Becky Whittle, Dr Amardeep Legha and Prof Richard Riley from University of Birmingham

 

 

(2) Systematic reviews of prognosis studies

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Prognosis studies are abundant in this era of personalized and precision medicine, which all has to do with prognosis research. Hence, systematic reviews of prognosis studies are increasingly required and conducted. 

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This workshop will introduce participants to the different types of prognosis research and explain the differences between prognosis, diagnosis and intervention studies. We then provide explicit guidance how to define a proper review question using the PICOTS format, to design a review protocol, to search the literature, to extract the data using the CHARMS checklist, to assess the risk of bias in the primary studies using PROBAST+AI and QUIPS, and finally to conduct a meta-analysis of the retrieved data and test for heterogeneity across studies. We will illustrate all this using many empirical examples, and frequently apply small group practicals and discussions. 

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After this workshop, participants have a good overview of the essentials of prognosis research and systematic reviews of such studies.

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Faculty includes: Dr Anneke Damen, Prof Karel Moons from UMC Utrecht