Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42420850›Full record

ArticleBMC medical research methodology2026

The dilemma of using racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research.

A S Kidane Gebremeskel, K A C Meeks, M H Cnossen, A M'charek, A W Rijneveld

Abstract readLetter
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

A S Kidane GebremeskelDep. of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015 GD, the Netherlands. aida.kidane.sci@gmail.com.
K A C MeeksCenter for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, The United States of America, 12 South Drive Bldg 12A ste 1025, Bethesda, MD, 20892-5611, USA.
M H CnossenDep. of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015 GD, the Netherlands.
A M'charekAnthropology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1018WV, the Netherlands.
A W RijneveldDepartment of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015 GD, the Netherlands.

Funding

NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) award DK131018NIMH Intramural Research Program ZIAMH002986-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ethno-racial categories (ERCs) are inconsistently operationalized in biomedical research, with challenges in incorporating multiracial subjects and reliance on proxies like country of birth. We emphasize the need for transparency in ERC data collection and propose peer reviewer guidelines to standardize and critically evaluate ERC usage in studies.

Indexed as

Biomedical ResearchEthnicityRacial GroupsData CollectionHumansConfounding factorsEthnicityEthno-racial categoriesRaceSickle cell disease

Identifiers

PMID42420850
PMCPMC13348466

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.