The dilemma of using racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research

BMC Medical Research Methodology · Published 2026-07-08 · DOI 10.1186/s12874-026-02917-x

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Authors (5)

A S Kidane Gebremeskel, K A C Meeks, M H Cnossen, A M’charek, A W Rijneveld

Abstract

Abstract Ethno-racial categories (ERCs) are inconsistently operationalized in biomedical research, with challenges in incorporating multiracial subjects and reliance on proxies like country of birth. We emphasize the need for transparency in ERC data collection and propose peer reviewer guidelines to standardize and critically evaluate ERC usage in studies.

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Publication details

Year
2026

Citation

Gebremeskel, A., Meeks, K., Cnossen, M., et al. (2026). The dilemma of using racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research. BMC Medical Research Methodology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-026-02917-x

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