Influential research outputs
The Lancet
Our research helped change India’s cataract surgery policy
Mobile camps provided cataract surgery to people in rural areas. Amarjit’s research showed one-third of patients were blind in the operated eye 12 months after the operation. This contributed to India’s shift to a fixed-facility approach.
Cost-effectiveness of public-funded options for cataract surgery in Mysore, India
Singh A, Garner P, Floyd K
Lancet 2000; 355: 180-184
Read publication →BMJ
Our research changed diarrhoea treatment worldwide
Oral rehydration salt solution helps save many lives from diarrhoea in some countries. We synthesised existing trials and showed a newer, less-salty formula was more effective. The World Health Organization changed their global formula within a year.
Reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution for treating dehydration due to diarrhoea in children: systematic review
Hahn S, Kim Y, Garner P.
BMJ 2001;323:81
Read publication →The Lancet
Our synthesis led to a major shift in malaria treatment worldwide
Artemisinin antimalarials appeared as other drugs were failing. We analysed artemisinin combination treatments with all the trialists involved. The World Health Organization then recommended these formulations worldwide.
Artesunate combinations for treating uncomplicated malaria: A prospective individual patient data meta-analysis
International Artemisinin Study Group
Lancet 2004;363:9-17
Read publication →WHO
Our reviews were used for most new WHO malaria drug treatment recommendations over 15 years
I was the guideline methodologist and head of the systematic review team for the WHO Malaria Chemotherapy Guidelines 2004 to 2018 (1st Ed. 2006; 2nd Ed.2010; 3rd Ed. 2015). Fourteen of our reviews were used in the 3rd edition (8 led by LMIC authors).
Guidelines for the treatment of malaria. Third edition
Malaria Chemotherapy Guidelines Development Group
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015
Read publication →Cochrane
Our research challenged WHO directly observed therapy dogma for people with tuberculosis
In 2002, WHO made a global recommendation that all TB patients should be watched taking their medication. In a series of reviews, we concluded there was no strong evidence that this policy was beneficial. The review was controversial as it challenged WHO dogma. Over time, the review helped the WHO nuance its claims, messaging, and recommendations.
Directly observed therapy for treating tuberculosis
Karumbi J, Garner P
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015(5)
Read publication →BMJ
We developed global updating guidelines for systematic reviews
I coordinated the development of guidance about when to prepare new editions of systematic reviews. This consensus guidance was built on our experience across Cochrane review groups.
When and how to update systematic reviews: consensus and checklist
Garner P, Hopewell S, Chandler J, Maclehose H, Schünemann HJ, Akl EA, et al.
BMJ. 2016:i3507
Read publication →Indian Journal of Medical Research
Contribution to India guidelines for extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Management of people suspected of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in India is varied. We were invited by the Government of India and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to serve as methodologists to help build national guidelines.
Index-TB Guidelines: Guidelines on extrapulmonary tuberculosis for India
Sharma SK, Ryan H, Khaparde S, Sachdeva KS, Singh AD, Mohan A, et al.
Indian J Med Res. 2017;145(4):448–63
Read publication →Cochrane
Our research, spanning 20 years, challenged global dogma that mass treatment for intestinal helminths led to increased wealth and health of whole continents
The WHO and NGO’s launched campaigns to “deworm the world” of intestinal helminths in children in poor countries to improve their health, development and wealth. The review was controversial as it challenged one of the most celebrated interventions in development economics. With six subsequent editions, contemporary evidence of little or no effect became more obvious.
Public health deworming programmes for soil‐transmitted helminths in children living in endemic areas
Taylor‐Robinson DC, Maayan N, Donegan S, Chaplin M, Garner P
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2019(9)
Read publication →PLoS Biology
Contributed to guidelines for reporting animal research studies
I was the methodologist on the Guidelines Panel for a new edition of the Reporting Animal Research Studies Guidelines (ARRIVE II). This has been cited over 11,000 times.
The ARRIVE guidelines 2.0: Updated guidelines for reporting animal research
Percie du Sert N, Hurst V, Ahluwalia A, Alam S, Avey MT, Baker M, Browne WJ, Clark A, Cuthill IC, Dirnagl U, Emerson M, Garner P, Holgate ST, Howells DW, Karp NA, Lazic SE, Lidster K, MacCallum CJ, Macleod M, Pearl EJ, Petersen O, Rawle F, Peynolds P, Rooney K, Sena ES, Silberberg SD, Steckler T and Wurbel H
PLoS Biol. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000410
Read publication →General research since 2020
Excluding Covid-19 and fatigue conditions
PLoS One
Testing for saturation in qualitative evidence syntheses: An update of HIV adherence in Africa
Rohwer A, Hendricks L, Oliver S, Garner P.
PLoS One. 2021;16(10):e0258352
Read publication →American Journal of Public Health
Enhancing Public Health Systematic Reviews With Diagram Visualization
Rohwer A, Taylor M, Ryan R, Garner P, Oliver S
Am J Public Health. 2021;111(6):1029–34
Read publication →PLoS One
Suicide rates and suicidal behaviour in displaced people: A systematic review
Cogo E, Murray M, Villanueva G, Hamel C, Garner P, Senior SL, et al.
PLoS One. 2022 Mar 10;17(3):e0263797
Read publication →Research Synthesis Methods
Identifying and managing problematic trials: A research integrity assessment tool for randomized controlled trials in evidence synthesis
Weibel S, Popp M, Reis S, Skoetz N, Garner P, Sydenham E
Res Synth Methods. 2023 May;14(3):357-369
Read publication →Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health
The India brain infections guidelines project: Global evidence for local application
Rupali P, Singh B, Gracelin Princy N, Sara John J, Kuehn R, Solomon T, et al.
Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 2024; 27
Read publication →Health Research Policy and Systems
Use of qualitative research in World Health Organisation guidelines: a document analysis
Taylor M, Garner P, Oliver S, Desmond N
Health Res Policy Syst. 2024;22(1):44
Read publication →Cochrane
Systematic reviews of clinical laboratory studies: Pilot risk of bias tool developed by consensus
Fox T, Hunt BJ, Ariens RAS, Towers GJ, Lever R, Garner P, et al.
Cochrane Evid Synth Methods. 2024 Aug 12;2(8):e12098
Read publication →Health Policy and Planning
Expert stakeholders on the role of qualitative research in World Health Organisation guidelines
Taylor M, Garner P, Oliver S, Desmond N
Health Policy Plan. 2026 Mar 10;41(3):433-441
Read publication →Bulletin World Health Organization
National guideline development and adaptation, Egypt
Kheirandish M, Tamim MA, Rashidian A, El-Asady R, Al Qasseer N, Gad El-Kareem G, et al.
Bull World Health Organ. 2026 May 1;104(5):350-356
Read publication →Academic work in Covid-19 and fatigue conditions
Since 2023,I have developed a research portfolio related to a whole-person approach to health care, which views illness and symptoms as part of biology, with persistent physical symptoms just being a condition like any other — with biological, psychological and social components, all of which are important in understanding the conditions and the different strategies to recover.
Explore →Paul has more than 500 research publications.
The full list can be viewed here:
View Paul’s ORCID profile →