Method
From publications to harmonized participant-level evidence.
Hofmann's process is designed to preserve provenance, identify duplicated cohorts, separate exploratory findings from validated claims, and determine whether controlled-access IPD can support responsible cross-cohort analysis.
LiteratureDefine the source corpus and extract citable facts.
Cohort ResolutionDeduplicate publications into underlying participant cohorts.
Structured EvidenceCode predictor, outcome, and provenance relationships.
Participant-Level DataAssess consent-compatible IPD access pathways.
HarmonizationMap variables into a common participant-level schema.
Cross-Cohort ValidationPrioritize independent replication over isolated signals.
FindingsReport positive, negative, and insufficient evidence.
Evidence-driven
Claims remain tied to local evidence and provenance ledgers.
Treatment-neutral
The work does not assume that any treatment class is superior.
Replication-first
Independent cohort replication is prioritized over isolated exploratory findings.
Negative findings retained
Insufficient evidence is treated as a result, not a communication problem.
Clinical boundaries
No individual clinical recommendations or treatment-selection tools are proposed.
Cautious inference
Absence of evidence is not treated as evidence of absence.