Annabel Davies

Network meta-analysis and statistical physics

Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a technique used in medical statistics to combine evidence from multiple medical trials. NMA defines an inference and information processing problem on a network of treatment options and trials connecting the treatments. We believe that statistical physics can offer useful ideas and tools for this area, including from the theory of complex networks, stochastic modelling and simulation techniques. In this talk I introduce NMA and discuss some open challenges facing the field. I discuss connections to physics and some of our own contributions so far. I also speculate on where this work can go next.