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Call for papersResearch methodology

Call for Papers: Real-world evidence and data quality in healthcare (BMC Medical Research Methodology)

BMC Medical Research Methodology’s collection examines how real-world evidence is generated, evaluated and strengthened. This guide sets out topic areas consistent with that scope, fit checks for methodological manuscripts and points to confirm before submission.

Pubrica InsightsEditorial team, reviewed by a subject specialist
Deadline
25 June 2027
Last checked
10 November 2026
Reading time
5 min
Sources
1
Submit through the official call

Key dates

Manuscript deadline
25 June 2027
Details last checked
10 November 2026
Open the official call

About the journal

Journal
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Publisher
BMC, part of Springer Nature
Call type
Call for papers
Scope
How real-world evidence is generated, evaluated and strengthened.
Guest editors
Listed on the official collection page
Access and fees
Open access; an article processing charge normally applies on acceptance
Originality
Original work, not under review elsewhere; confirm on the official page

Topics consistent with the call

  • Methods for assessing and improving the quality of routinely collected health data
  • Approaches to confounding and bias in observational real-world evidence studies
  • Target trial emulation and other designs using electronic health records
  • Simulation studies comparing methods for missing or misclassified real-world data
  • Frameworks for evaluating the fitness of data sources for regulatory decisions
  • Linkage of registries, claims and clinical records and its methodological challenges

Based on the published scope; the full list of themes is on the official call page.

Is your work a fit? Check before you write

  1. The manuscript makes a methodological contribution to generating, evaluating or strengthening real-world evidence.
  2. Methods are described in enough detail, ideally with code or worked examples, for others to apply them.
  3. Performance of the method is assessed through simulation, empirical comparison or a clear rationale.
  4. The relevance of the method to health research practice and decision-making is explained.
  5. The work is complete, approved by all co-authors and ready to submit before the stated deadline.

Why This Call Is a Priority Now

Real-world data from health records, registries and claims are increasingly used to support clinical, regulatory and policy decisions. The usefulness of that evidence depends on data quality and on methods that address bias, missingness and measurement error. A themed collection in a methodology journal draws together methods development, simulation and empirical evaluation, helping researchers compare approaches and adopt sound practice, and gives authors a readership specifically interested in the methodological foundations of real-world evidence.

Who Should Submit

Academic backgrounds

  • Biostatistics
  • Pharmacoepidemiology
  • Health data science and informatics
  • Clinical epidemiology
  • Health services research

Institutions and sectors

  • Universities and methods research centres
  • Regulatory and health technology assessment agencies
  • Pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations
  • Health data custodians and registry organisations

Article types commonly published in BMC Medical Research Methodology

  • Methodology articles describing new or adapted methods
  • Simulation studies comparing the performance of methods
  • Empirical studies evaluating methods on real data
  • Tutorials and guidance on applying methods

What the Editors Typically Value

  1. New or adapted methods that address bias or data quality problems specific to real-world data.
  2. Simulation studies that compare competing methods under realistic data conditions.
  3. Empirical evaluations showing how methodological choices change real-world evidence findings.
  4. Practical tutorials or guidance that help researchers apply robust methods to routine data.

Paper Ideas You Could Develop

Data quality assessment frameworkA methodology article proposing and testing a structured approach to assessing completeness and accuracy in electronic health record data.
Comparing missing data methodsA simulation study comparing approaches to handling informative missingness in registry-based cohort studies.
Emulating a target trialA tutorial applying target trial emulation to routinely collected data, with code and discussion of key design decisions.

Your Plan to the Deadline

A suggested schedule working back from 25 June 2027. Adjust it to the stage your work has reached.

  1. By 11 May 2027

    Open the official collection page and the BMC Medical Research Methodology submission guidelines; confirm the scope, article types and guest editors.

  2. By 25 May 2027

    Write a one-paragraph statement of your research question, design and the contribution your paper makes to the collection.

  3. By 4 Jun 2027

    Complete the analysis and agree the key findings, figures and tables with your co-authors.

  4. By 15 Jun 2027

    Draft the full manuscript to the BMC Medical Research Methodology article type and the relevant reporting guideline.

  5. By 20 Jun 2027

    Circulate the draft to co-authors and an independent reader; revise for clarity, accuracy and completeness.

  6. By 23 Jun 2027

    Complete final checks: formatting, references, declarations, data availability statement and cover letter.

  7. By 25 Jun 2027

    Submit through the journal’s online system, selecting the collection, after re-checking the official call page.

What you gain from publishing here

  • Publication in BMC Medical Research Methodology, reaching readers working on this topic.
  • A themed collection that groups your paper with related work.
  • Editorial and peer feedback that can strengthen the work, whatever the decision.
  • A peer-reviewed output for your CV, thesis or grant reporting.

What happens after you submit

  1. Submission: upload through the BMC Medical Research Methodology online system and select the collection.
  2. Editorial screening: the editors check fit with the collection; papers outside its scope may be returned without review.
  3. Peer review: suitable papers are sent to reviewers under the journal’s review model.
  4. Revision and decision: respond to each reviewer comment and keep a record of the changes.
  5. Production: accepted papers move to proofs and open access publication, with the article processing charge set out by the publisher.

What the Collection Is Looking For

The collection is looking for methodological work on how real-world evidence is generated, evaluated and strengthened. Consistent with BMC Medical Research Methodology’s remit, suitable manuscripts may describe new or adapted methods, compare methods through simulation, evaluate methods on real data, or provide tutorials and guidance. Applied studies are more likely to fit where the methodological contribution is central. Authors should confirm accepted article types on the official call page.

Read the call itselfThis guide summarises the call. Open the official collection page before you plan a submission, and record the date you checked it and the guest editors listed.Open the official call

Expert help

How Pubrica Can Help With This Submission

Pubrica’s subject specialists can review, write, edit, format and prepare your manuscript for this call, planned back from the deadline. You remain the author of your work.

Biostatistics and statistical programmingStatistical analysis plans, analysis, simulation code and statistical review of results. Original research article writingManuscript writing from your data, structured to the journal’s article type and reporting guideline. Manuscript editingLanguage and technical editing to prepare the manuscript for submission. Journal formattingFormatting of the manuscript, references, figures and tables to the journal’s guidelines. Cover letterA cover letter that explains how the manuscript fits the collection and the journal’s scope. Journal submissionPreparation of submission files and completion of the journal’s online submission system.
Go to the official call

FAQs

Questions Authors Ask

The published deadline is 25 June 2027. Collections can close early or be extended, so confirm the date on the official call page before you plan your submission.

The guest editors are listed on the official collection page. Check their research interests, as they help to judge whether your manuscript fits the collection.

An applied study may fit if its main contribution is methodological, for example demonstrating or evaluating an approach to data quality or bias. A study reporting clinical findings alone may be better suited elsewhere. Authors should check the official call page for guidance.

BMC journals publish articles open access, and an article processing charge normally applies on acceptance. Check the journal’s fees and funding page, and whether your institution has an agreement that covers the charge, before you submit.

Sources

  1. BMC Medical Research Methodology. (2026). Real-world evidence and data quality in healthcare [Collection call for papers]. BMC, part of Springer Nature. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://link.springer.com/collections/fhdhdjbabf

How to cite this page

Pubrica Insights. (2026). Call for Papers: Real-world evidence and data quality in healthcare (BMC Medical Research Methodology). Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/insights/calls-and-conferences/real-world-evidence-and-data-quality-in-healthcare/

  • Real-world evidence
  • Data quality
  • Observational methods
  • Electronic health records
  • Biostatistics

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Real-world evidence and data quality in healthcare (BMC Medical Research Methodology)Deadline 25 June 2027

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