“China’s scale makes it a living laboratory for global health, but scale alone isn’t enough. To deliver real impact, research must be rigorous, transparent, and internationally connected.”

Dr Jocalyn Clark 
The BMJ’s International Editor and editorial lead for this special collection

The Collection features six analysis articles and an editorial co-authored by experts from The BMJ, Tsinghua University, and the University of Bristol. Together, they chart the evolution of cohort studies in China, from early occupational cohorts to today’s large-scale initiatives, and set out recommendations for the next phase of collaboration and quality assurance.

Editorial

Enhancing cohort studies in China and international collaboration
A new BMJ Collection examines how well designed, large scale research can benefit global health, but that international collaboration is key to unlocking China’s full potential 

Analysis

Landscape analysis of large scale cohort development in China
Zhibin Hu and colleagues advocate for multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote the sustainable development of large scale cohorts in China

International collaboration in cohort studies in China: opportunities and challenges
Zhengming Chen and colleagues outline the key value, opportunities, and challenges of international collaboration in cohort studies in China

Community based cohort studies in China: critical insights for shaping the future of population and public health
Dongfeng Gu and colleagues review community based cohort studies in China, finding strategies to improve the quality and scale of these studies in China and beyond

Breadth versus depth: balancing variables, sample size, and quality in Chinese cohort studies
Weimin Li and colleagues explore the trade-offs and challenges posed by the increasing scale and complexity of cohort studies, highlighting the central argument that “bigger is not always better”

Building sustainable cohort studies in China: a hybrid model for public health research
Xiangmei Chen and colleagues consider the challenges of conducting cohort studies and how they can be overcome

Transforming Chinese cohort studies through artificial intelligence: a new era of population health research
Tien Yin Wong and colleagues explore how artificial intelligence can tackle persistent challenges in Chinese epidemiological studies and analyse the regulatory frameworks and barriers to implementation that must be overcome to ensure equitable, scientifically rigorous population health research

Funding
This BMJ collection was developed in partnership with West China Hospital, Sichuan University and the First Hospital of Jilin University. The BMJ commissioned, peer reviewed, edited, and made the decisions to publish the articles. John Ji and Jocalyn Clark were the lead editors for The BMJ.

Request an interview with The BMJ international editor, Dr Jocalyn Clark, by contacting the BMJ Group media relations team: mediarelations@bmj.com / +44 (0)7825 118 107

About BMJ Group and BMJ Collections
BMJ Group is a global healthcare knowledge provider and publisher of one of the world’s top five most cited general medical journals, The BMJ. For BMJ Group, collections are an important way of bringing evidence together to address key issues in health and research. BMJ Collections help inform policy and guidelines and influence funding decisions by tackling the most pressing health challenges, policy issues and global priorities.

They combine research, analysis and expert commentary, coordinated and commissioned through our global network of researchers, and are developed with academic institutions, funders, non governmental organisations and international bodies. Drawing on leading journals such as The BMJ, BMJ Innovations and BMJ Global Health, they raise awareness and deliver the latest, most relevant evidence through events, targeted dissemination and thought leadership. https://www.bmj.com/collections

“We will close out 2025 in defiance of how it began, by championing the fact that women, in all their diversities, are not passive to political tides but powerful agents of change. Their leadership will strengthen women’s health, innovation, rights, and the entire global health ecosystem. But sustaining that momentum, especially amid shrinking public budgets, will require continued support from government, civil society, philanthropy and business to fuel the wave of innovation women’s health so urgently needs.”

Dr Jocalyn Clark 
The BMJ’s International Editor and editorial lead for this special collection

Editorial

Upending women’s health
The growing movement around women’s health innovation is welcomed, but to be genuinely transformative it must be political, argues Jocalyn Clark

Analysis

Innovative design and modelling to improve sex and gender analysis in clinical trials
Jane Hirst and colleagues argue that novel modelling approaches using routinely collected data can be only as representative and complete as the original data, and that bridging the sex and gender gap through contemporary, innovative clinical trial designs could be a crucial way forward

Digital health technologies to transform women’s health innovation and inclusive research
Bola Grace and colleagues argue that using digital health technologies ethically can increase the scope and scale of research and connect systems to improve women’s health

Effective regulation of technology in women’s health and healthcare
Carmel Schachar and colleagues argue that femtech requires robust and stringent privacy and security safeguards because of the sensitivity of the data

AI supported diagnostic innovations for impact in global women’s health
Nina Linder and colleagues examine how artificial intelligence could be applied to diagnostic methods that rely on highly trained experts, such as cytological screening for cervical cancer, enabling implementation even in resource limited settings

Decolonising women’s health innovation
Tiffany Nassiri-Ansari and colleagues set out how a decolonial feminist approach to innovation could produce greater gender equality and health equity

Leadership and culture change to advance innovation in women’s health
Sapna Kedia and colleagues argue that equitable leadership, supported by training and systemic reform and rooted in marginalised groups’ experiences and community insight, can transform the innovation cycle, from research and development to delivery, making health technologies more inclusive and impactful

Designing clinical practice guidelines for equitable, inclusive and contextualized care
Sabine Oertelt-Prigione and colleagues argue that European clinical practice guidelines need standardised, inclusive, sex and gender sensitive development to not only guide healthcare but also drive innovation and research agendas

Opinion

We need a broader perspective on innovations to advance a women and health agenda
Although biotech innovations have contributed to improvements in health outcomes, we need more comprehensive health innovation to tackle persistent gender and intersectional equity gaps, argue Karla Unger Saldaña and colleagues

Reshaping research and development through women’s leadership
To achieve equitable health systems women need to be the architects of innovation, not merely its recipients, says Fara Ndiaye

Reimagining women’s health is a global imperative
The choices and investments we make to advance women’s health now will define our shared health and prosperity in the future, writes Ru Cheng

Request an interview with The BMJ international editor, Dr Jocalyn Clark, by contacting the BMJ Group media relations team: mediarelations@bmj.com / +44 (0)7825 118 107 

Funding 

This BMJ Collection was developed in partnership with the Gates Foundation. Open access fees were funded by the Gates Foundation. The BMJ commissioned, peer reviewed, edited, and made the decision to publish. Smruti Patel and Jocalyn Clark were the lead editors for The BMJ.

About BMJ Group and BMJ Collections

BMJ Group is a global healthcare knowledge provider and publisher of one of the world’s top five most cited general medical journals, The BMJ. For BMJ Group, collections are an important way of bringing evidence together to address key issues in health and research. BMJ Collections help inform policy and guidelines and influence funding decisions by tackling the most pressing health challenges, policy issues and global priorities.

They combine research, analysis and expert commentary, coordinated and commissioned through our global network of researchers, and are developed with academic institutions, funders, non governmental organisations and international bodies. Drawing on leading journals such as The BMJ, BMJ Innovations and BMJ Global Health, they raise awareness and deliver the latest, most relevant evidence through events, targeted dissemination and thought leadership. https://www.bmj.com/collections

About the Innovation Equity Forum (IEF)

In early 2023, the Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health partnered with Camber Collective to establish the Innovation Equity Forum (IEF)—a global coalition of women’s health experts, innovators, and advocates. The IEF was launched to identify and prioritize critical opportunities to advance women’s health innovation worldwide. Its flagship initiative, the Women’s Health Innovation Opportunity Map, is a strategic blueprint to accelerate innovations that reduce women’s morbidity and mortality. 

Professor Larson’s research focuses on the role of trust in health systems, particularly in times of crisis, and the influence of emotions, beliefs and misinformation on vaccine acceptance. She is a leading voice in efforts to understand and combat vaccine hesitancy through research and community-driven initiatives.

In 2024, Professor Larson and colleagues contributed the analysis paper, Building public trust in preparation for future health shocks: a research agenda, to feature in The BMJ research priorities for future shocks collection. This analysis discusses how trust is fundamental to cooperation and essential in times of crisis. Researching and understanding trust networks and perceptions of trustworthiness is crucial in preparing for future health shocks.

We spoke to Professor Larson about shaping global preparedness for health crises, the impact of her recent paper, and her experience of having it published by The BMJ general medical journal.

“Revisiting the research agenda at this point in time was so valuable, because the world has changed dramatically in the last decade. Publishing in The BMJ allowed for this refresh and reconnection with a wider audience.”

Professor Heidi Larson
Professor of Anthropology and the founding director of the Vaccine Confidence Project

New journals launched to address the diverse needs of the medical communities BMJ Group serves, supporting innovation in healthcare and fostering excellence in research

London, December 2024— BMJ Group, a global healthcare knowledge provider, announces the launch of five new journals dedicated to advancing medical research in critical areas. This expansion builds on the Group’s 65+ journal portfolio and underscores its commitment to open access (OA) publishing, ensuring that high quality research is globally accessible.

The first of the BMJ Connections journals, BMJ Connections Clinical Genetics and Genomics, provides an exclusive OA platform for groundbreaking genetic research.

BMJ Connections Oncology focuses on accelerating advancements in cancer research with a wide international scope, providing open access to studies in clinical, scientific, and translational oncology.

BMJ Digital Health & AI provides an essential space for the latest technology-integrated healthcare. It is launched alongside the BMJ Future Health community, an in-person conference and comprehensive programme of webinars and podcasts – designed for year-round learning and sharing of experiences on the transformative potential of MedTech and AI in healthcare.

Focusing on bioethics, JME Practical Bioethics addresses emerging ethical challenges of the twenty-first century, providing essential knowledge for decision making in clinical practice.

Launching in 2025, BMJ Immunology will have a hybrid publication model that meets the diverse needs of the immunology community, aligns with funder mandates, and supports inclusive research dissemination.

These launches come at a pivotal moment. As healthcare faces global challenges—from the rise of chronic disease to the incorporation of AI in clinical care—BMJ Group recognises the urgent need for specialised and reliable platforms to drive real-world impact. These journals will help to bridge gaps between research and practical application, empowering healthcare providers and policymakers across regions and resource levels.

“Amid growing demand for rapid, transparent access to transformative research, BMJ Group’s portfolio expansion reflects our dedication to driving medical advancement and supporting compliance with funder mandates. These new titles represent our unparalleled focus on fostering accessible, impactful research that improves patient care.”

Claire Rawlinson
Director of Growth Strategy, BMJ Group

He spoke to us recently about how he credits publishing in The BMJ for amplifying his research’s impact, facilitating global conversations, and creating collaborations. BMJ Group’s flagship journal’s credibility and promotional efforts enabled his findings to influence diverse healthcare systems, advancing the adoption of holistic, prevention focused strategies worldwide.

“The network meetings, events, and subsequent publicity from BMJ Group really springboarded conversations – both internally and with global partners – about adapting and implementing our findings. They helped get the science noticed by those we want to collaborate with.”

Dr Derek Cocker
Academic Clinical Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and Global Health

Winter preparations and flu vaccination: a global perspective on resilience

As the chill of winter sets in, healthcare systems worldwide, including the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), prepare for the surge of seasonal illnesses like influenza and respiratory infections. These challenges, compounded by the persistent threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), strain hospital resources, staff, and patient pathways. To navigate these pressures, healthcare leaders focus on resilience-building strategies, with flu vaccination programmes taking centre stage.

“While often seen as an individual health choice, flu vaccination is vital in safeguarding healthcare systems. By reducing hospital admissions and easing the demand for critical care beds, vaccination ensures that already stretched resources can serve those most in need. Globally, where healthcare systems are often more fragile, early prevention through vaccination is not just beneficial – it’s essential for sustaining the health infrastructure.”

The BMJ does come with a certain kudos and weight… journalists, politicians, the public would give it more weight just because it’s in The BMJ.”

Dr Azeem Majeed
Professor and Head of the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College

Dr Azeem Majeed, Professor and Head of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College London, is among the most highly cited researchers in primary care, with over 234,000 citations and an H-Index of 143. His work has significantly influenced health policies like disease prevention and health surveillance. In addition to his academic leadership, he continues practising as an NHS GP and Public Health Consultant, maintaining a vital connection to frontline healthcare.

Dr Majeed’s research spans many areas, from healthcare systems and public health policy to chronic disease management and the long-term impacts of covid-19. He spoke to us about his latest analysis article and the impact of its publication in The BMJ collection, Research Priorities for Future Shocks, a series of peer-reviewed articles addressing the critical research priorities for mitigating the impact of future health crises.

Dr Majeed and colleagues’ analysis, Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions: Evaluating Challenges and Priorities for Future Health Shocks, calls for rigorous evaluation of measures such as lockdowns and mask-wearing to provide timely evidence for policymakers. The authors argue that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during health crises like covid-19 are essential but have unintended consequences, such as economic and mental health impacts.

Public health measures like social distancing and lockdowns help manage health crises but can have side effects, such as job loss or mental health struggles. The authors argue that quickly reviewing these measures can help improve policies while keeping public trust. The UK’s data systems were helpful during covid-19, but need better preparation for future challenges. Their analysis suggests setting up a dedicated pandemic body, improving data for vulnerable people, and working more with global partners. Clear communication and involving the public are crucial for success, they conclude.

For over 30 years, Dr Majeed has worked closely with BMJ Group, publishing many papers on topics such as covid-19, vaccine hesitancy, NHS workforce, and chronic disease management. His long-standing collaboration with the Group has not only enhanced his research career but also significantly impacted the direction of public health research and education worldwide.

His relationship with BMJ Group began in the 1990s when he joined one of its editorial committees. Over the years, he has contributed various articles to The BMJ and other journals in the portfolio, such as BMJ Open and BMJ Medicine. He shares, “BMJ [Group] has always been a prominent platform for me, offering widespread visibility for my research and allowing me to engage with a global audience.”

“I received feedback from about 10 individuals from countries like China and others worldwide, each offering unique perspectives. It was fascinating to hear such diverse viewpoints.”

“Publishing with BMJ [Group] ensures that my work reaches a broad, global audience. The BMJ is highly respected, and having my work published there increases its credibility and ensures it has a larger impact compared to other journals. Papers published in The BMJ often have higher downloads and more engagement, as we saw with some of my covid-19 papers, which received over 200,000 views.”

The impact of his recent analysis evaluating the challenges and priorities for future health shocks is reflected in its high visibility and engagement. Altmetric positions it in the 95th percentile, placing it in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked. With over 26 million research outputs monitored globally, this paper stands out for its substantial reach and influence.

Dr Majeed’s work shapes global discussions on health resilience, and continues to directly inform education, policymaking, and public health strategies worldwide. His continued involvement with BMJ Group ensures that his research will remain a key resource for future health preparedness and response efforts.

The visibility and impact of his work extend well beyond academic circles. Dr Majeed’s papers, particularly those published in The BMJ, BMJ Open and BMJ Global Health, have made a notable impact on education. As the course chairman for the  Imperial College Master of Public Health programme, he integrates his BMJ-published work into the curriculum as a foundation for critical discussions among students.

“So we would include it in our course material and encourage students to read it and think critically about some of the issues raised in that paper.”

He also believes that BMJ’s reputation as a prestigious publisher helps to amplify the weight of his research. He discusses the significant reach his previous papers published with BMJ have had, with some of his covid-19-related articles receiving over 200,000 views. The impact of publishing with BMJ is noted not only in terms of readership but also in the credibility it lends to his work.

Publishing with BMJ Group has been crucial in disseminating Dr Majeed’s research within educational contexts. Dr  Majeed incorporates his BMJ-published papers into the curriculum. He explains, “We use these papers to stimulate critical thinking among students, particularly when discussing public health interventions like those used during the pandemic.”

He believes that the partnership between research and education is vital to advancing public health outcomes, and emphasises the importance of patient involvement in the research process. His work is designed with patient input at every stage, from research design to dissemination. This patient-centred approach is now a hallmark of his research programmes, ensuring that patient voices are integrated into the core of the academic and policy discourse.

“The feedback we receive from patients helps shape the direction of our research and ensures that the findings are relevant and impactful,” he says. “Increasingly, we are also involving patients as co authors in our publications, which is a crucial step in recognising their contribution to the research process.”

“So if I compare, for example, the number of downloads my papers have had and the number of page views across all journals, The BMJ is much, much higher. All my papers get at least several thousand views.”

Beyond the educational setting, The BMJ‘s reach also influences policy and public health practices. As a trusted journal, The BMJ helps amplify research findings that inform decision makers, health professionals, and the public. Dr Majeed’s contributions on covid-19, vaccine hesitancy, and NHS workforce issues have influenced not only academic discussions but also public health policies and practices.

“Publishing in The BMJ gives my work the weight it needs to be taken seriously by policy makers, journalists, and the public,” Dr Majeed concludes. “It helps bring important issues into the spotlight, leading to better informed discussions and, ultimately, improved public health strategies.”

For researchers and educators alike, publishing with BMJ Group provides a powerful platform that enhances the visibility of their work and contributes meaningfully to advancing healthcare education, policy, and global public health outcomes.