Transforming lymphoma outcomes through international real-world data collaborations: the Global Lymphoma Registry Alliance roadmap.
Lymphomas comprise a complex and heterogeneous group of malignancies which pose challenges in understanding their epidemiology, pathobiology, treatment responses and long-term outcomes. Evolving diagnostic classification and fast-paced therapy development compound these challenges. Robust real-world data (RWD) collection and analysis using clinical registries can contribute significantly to address gaps in understanding of practice variation and provide evidence for health technology assessments. However, to maximize the impact of lymphoma registries, and those in other diseases, there is a compelling need for global collaboration, data harmonization and automated integration between registries and other large datasets. Technologies that enable safer data sharing are already available, but historical legal frameworks and evolving privacy concerns are not keeping pace, undermining their intended purpose and limiting the full potential of available high-quality RWD to improve patient care. This White Paper written by the Global Lymphoma Registry Alliance (LyRA) discusses the importance and value of lymphoma registries for different stakeholders as well as benefits of forming a global alliance of the registry network. An alliance such as LyRA serves both academic endeavors and public interest through collaboration between patient and community organizations, policy-makers, regulatory authorities, industry and others seeking to use RWD. Bringing these stakeholders together and raising awareness more broadly will facilitate timely clinical trial result contextualization and innovation in public-private collaborations on novel trial emulations and designs, including external comparator cohorts. The LyRA leadership propose strategies for overcoming barriers to facilitate these key collaborations towards improving patient outcomes on a global scale.