Seminar Series: Dr. Joel Gagnier
Clinimetrology: An empirical science of clinical research methods
Joel Gagnier
Clinical Epidemiologist, Associate Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Department of Surgery
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
Short Biography:
Dr. Joel J Gagnier is a Clinical Epidemiologist and Associate Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and in the Department of Surgery, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. He is the Field Leader of the master’s program in Clinical Epidemiology and Research Management. Dr. Gagnier’s research program focuses on clinical and methodological research related to musculoskeletal conditions and clinical care and the applications of AI and Machine learning to Clinical Trial design and implementation. Dr. Gagnier is a member of the CONSORT Group, the Cochrane Collaboration Musculoskeletal Group, Back Review Group, Bias Methods Group, past Chair of the Strategies in Clinical Research Section of the Orthopaedic Research Society, an editor and editorial board member of several peer-reviewed scientific journals, and a board member of several research societies. He has received over 30 million dollars in research funding, published over 220 peer-reviewed papers, several book chapters and given over 300 lectures and workshops at local, national and international scientific meetings. He is in the top 1% of cited scientists worldwide.
Abstract:
Clinimetrology is proposed as an empirical science of clinical research methods: the systematic study of how design, conduct, analysis, reporting, synthesis, and translation practices shape the credibility and usefulness of clinical evidence. This talk introduces clinimetrology as a unifying framework spanning 13 interlocking domains: (1) causal inference and target trial emulation; (2) randomized trials methodology; (3) observational studies and routinely collected health data; (4) analytic infrastructure, including missing data and competing risks; (5) diagnostic test accuracy methods; (6) prediction and prognosis methodology; (7) outcome measurement and clinimetrics; (8) evidence synthesis methods; (9) meta-epidemiology; (10) appraisal tools and evidence credibility; (11) reporting, transparency, and reproducibility; (12) implementation and translation methods; and (13) equity, heterogeneity, and external validity. Across these domains, clinimetrology treats methodological choices as testable hypotheses, leveraging comparative evaluations, simulations, replication audits, and meta-research designs to quantify bias, uncertainty, and generalizability, and to identify practices that improve decision-ready evidence. The session will provide a conceptual map linking domain-specific methods to common failure modes (e.g., time-zero bias, selective outcome reporting, misclassification, overfitting, publication bias, and inequitable applicability) and to practical remedies (e.g., explicit estimands, robust sensitivity analyses, validated measurement instruments, calibrated risk-of-bias assessment, and living synthesis). By positioning methods as an object of empirical inquiry, clinimetrology aims to accelerate trustworthy knowledge production, strengthen reproducibility, and improve the translation of evidence into equitable clinical care.
Area of Research:
Clinical epidemiology, clinical research, clinimetrology, methodological research, musculoskeletal conditions
Learn more about Dr. Gagnier:
Website
Date: Friday, January 30
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: PHFM 3015 (Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine) or Zoom (request link by email epibio@uwo.ca )
