Research
We bring together a multidisciplinary team and aim to be a source of high-quality evidence on which clinical decisions can be reliably based.
Our flagship projects

Trust the Evidence
Professor Carl Heneghan and Clinical Epidemiologist, Tom Jefferson, have developed an online newsletter that discusses the latest evidence, having sifted and summarised research, to inform better healthcare.

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
This project page provides a rapid summary and evaluation of relevant data around the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, reporting on important policy implications and highlighting areas of urgently needed research.
Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation
Nicola Lindson and Jamie Hartmann-Boyce lead the Cochrane living systematic review of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation, evaluating the effects of ECs to help smokers achieve long‐term abstinence.
Evidence Synthesis Working Group
The Evidence Synthesis Working Group (ESWG) aims to produce high quality reviews that evaluate what works, in what situations, and for whom. The Group also identifies clinical and methodology gaps to inform future research, policy and develop robust practical interventions for primary care.

Opioids
Since the 1990s, the prescribing of strong pain medicines called opioids has increased in England and most high-income countries. Oxford researchers review the global and national use of opioids and have developed tools to improve patient safety.

What is the best anticoagulation care?
CEBM researchers are leading research to optimise the use of anticoagulants. The work includes a suite of systematic reviews, several of which have influenced national and international health policy and clinical guidelines.

Preventable Deaths
The project, led by Georgia Richards, launched the Coroners’ Concerns to Prevent Harms series in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine to disseminate important lessons that serve patient safety and prevent similar deaths, leading to the creation of The Preventable Deaths Tracker.

Diabetes and Covid-19
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, CEBM researcher and co-director of the EBHC DPhil programme, has reviewed the evidence exploring the risks of Covid-19 in people with diabetes.

Can Tamiflu treat influenza?
Since 2014, the CEBM have been conducting research about the effects of neuraminidase inhibitors for treating symptoms of influenza. These activities have led to important changes in health policy and clinical practice.

The harms of transvaginal mesh
In 2014 Professor Carl Heneghan joined an undercover investigation to expose how the regulation of medical devices is so lax that mesh packaging for fruit could be approved as a medical device to be implanted in people’s bodies.
CEBM research
Our multidisciplinary research team are undertaking several different research projects that are impacting EBM policy and practice, across a broad range of topics, including diabetes, weight management, paramedics in primary care and COVID-19.
EBHC DPhil research
Our EBHC student research addresses critical health problems and healthcare disciplines across EBM. By facilitating the dissemination and distribution of their research, we hope to help shape the way evidence is communicated and understood, and provide a platform that supports an Evidence-based connection, and encourages others to contribute, because #EvidenceResonates.
Key research papers
Overdiagnosis: what it is and what it isn't
Journal article
Brodersen J. et al, (2018), BMJ evidence-based medicine, 23, 1 - 3
Ten essential papers for the practice of evidence-based medicine
Journal article
Nunan D. et al, (2017), Evidence-Based Medicine, 22, 202 - 204
Effect of oral dexamethasone without immediate antibiotics vs placebo on acute sore throat in adults a randomized clinical trial
Journal article
Hayward GN. et al, (2017), JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, 317, 1535 - 1543
Neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza: A systematic review and meta-analysis of regulatory and mortality data
Journal article
Heneghan CJ. et al, (2016), Health Technology Assessment, 20, 1 - 242
Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in children
Journal article
Matheson NJ. et al, (2007), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Does cranberry extract reduce antibiotic use for symptoms of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (CUTI)? Protocol for a feasibility study
Journal article
Gbinigie O. et al, (2019), Trials, 20
Latest publications
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Journal article
Aronson JK., (2023), BMJ, 383
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Journal article
Kitt J. et al, (2023), JAMA
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Cochrane review of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation
Dataset
BUTLER A. and LINDSON N., (2023)
The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine currently receives no core funding. Like most academic organisations, we fund the majority of our research from grants won through open competition.
We neither seek nor accept funding for our research from pharmaceutical companies or other private enterprises with relevant conflicts of interest.
Contact us
Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine
Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
Radcliffe Primary Care Building, University of Oxford
Woodstock Road, Oxford
OX2 6GG
T: +44 (0)1865 289322
E: Ruth Davis, CEBM Operations & Centre Manager - ruth.davis@phc.ox.ac.uk