The 2026 GetReal Institute Conference brought together regulators, HTA bodies, industry, academia and patient representatives to examine how real-world evidence can better support healthcare decision making.
Under the theme Translating Real-World Data into Decision-Ready Evidence: Bringing Data, Methods, and Decision Context Together, the conference focused on the practical considerations that determine whether RWE is useful for the decisions it is intended to support.
Over two days in Utrecht, discussions considered RWE from the perspectives of those generating the evidence and those assessing and using it. A key focus was the importance of understanding the decision context and evidence requirements, alongside the availability and suitability of the data.
Sessions explored what fitness for purpose means in practice, how evidence needs and expectations can differ across regulatory and HTA settings, and where uncertainty remains around the acceptance and use of RWE.
The programme also considered areas where policy and practice continue to evolve, including AI and machine learning, EU Joint Clinical Assessment, and the use of real-world data to support long-term follow-up.
There is no single approach to generating decision-ready evidence. Different stakeholders have different questions, requirements and perspectives on uncertainty. Bringing these perspectives together provided an opportunity to explore where expectations align, where they differ, and what this means in practice for the generation and use of RWE.
Scientific presentations and panel discussions were complemented by interactive
workshops and audience debate, creating opportunities for delegates to share experience, challenge assumptions and explore the issues in greater depth.
Thank you to our speakers, moderators, workshop leads, delegates, sponsors and partners for contributing to the 2026 conference.
The discussions from Utrecht will continue through the GetReal Institute’s scientific programme and wider activities over the coming year.
We look forward to welcoming the RWE community back in 2027.
In my mind the GertReal Conference is the most informative forum for RWE discussions bringing together so many key stakeholders and enabling ‘real’ conversations, disagreement, uncovering of assumptions and progress!”
GetReal Conference 2026
“What I valued most about the 2026 conference was the opportunity to hear directly from HTA bodies, industry, and academia in the same room, and to really understand how each stakeholder group approaches target trial emulation from their own vantage point. That kind of cross-perspective dialogue is hard to get elsewhere and made the discussions genuinely useful for my own work.”
