Registry-Based Research

Registry-based research uses systematically collected clinical data from patient registries—organized databases of patients with a specific disease or condition—to conduct observational studies. Registries began in the mid-20th century but have proliferated since the 2000s as electronic health records expanded and funding agencies recognized their value for real-world evidence generation. Registry studies provide large, diverse, representative populations without the cost of recruiting and following prospectively, enabling rapid generation of clinical evidence.