Scientific contributions
Peer-reviewed literature and methodology frameworks bridging clinical epidemiology with advanced machine learning, establishing algorithmic precision in real-world evidence.
Selected literature
A curated index of published research demonstrating rigorous causal inference applications and predictive modeling within complex clinical trials.
Causal Estimation
Predictive Modeling
Signal Extraction
Developing robust machine learning algorithms for heterogeneous treatment effects using electronic health records, in Biometrics.
An analysis of high-dimensional covariate adjustment in oncology trials, published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
A framework for removing systemic noise from real-world clinical data streams, published in Nature Digital Medicine.
1. Sadatsafavi M, Miravitlles M, Quint JK, Perugini V, Tavakoli H, Amegadzie JE, Alcazar Navarrete B; Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG)-COPD working group. Development and validation of PRECISE-X model: predicting first severe exacerbation in COPD. Thorax. 2025 Dec 31:thorax-2025-223770.
2. Sadatsafavi M, Tavakoli H, Safari A. Marginal versus conditional odds ratios when updating risk prediction models. Epidemiology. 2022;33(4):555–8
3. Kendzerska T, Aaron SD, Meteb M, Gershon AS, To T, Lougheed MD, Tavakoli H, Chen W, Kunkel E, Sadatsafavi M; Canadian Respiratory Research Network. Specialist Care in Individuals with Asthma Who Required Hospitalization: A Retrospective Population-Based Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021 Oct;9(10):3686-3696. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.06.018. Epub 2021 Jun 26. PMID: 34182160.
4. Bahremand T, Etminan M, Roshan-Moniri N, De Vera MA, Tavakoli H, Sadatsafavi M. Are COPD Prescription Patterns Aligned with Guidelines? Evidence from a Canadian Population-Based Study. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2021;16:751–9.
5. Chen W, Tavakoli H, FitzGerald JM, Subbarao P, Turvey SE, Sadatsafavi M. Age trends in direct medical costs of pediatric asthma: A population study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Off Publ Eur Soc Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2021.
6. Chen W, Sadatsafavi M, Tavakoli H, Samii A, Etminan M. Effects of β2-Adrenergic Agonists on Risk of Parkinson’s Disease in COPD: A Population-Based Study. Pharmacotherapy. 2020;40:408–15.
7. Tavakoli H, Chen W, Sin DD, FitzGerald JM, Sadatsafavi M. Predicting Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations. Developing a Population Surveillance Approach with Administrative Data. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2020;17:1069–76.
8. Longo C, Blais L, Brownell M, Quail JM, Sadatsafavi M, Forget A, et al. Association between asthma control trajectories in preschoolers and disease remission. Eur Respir J. 2020.
9. Chen W, Safari A, FitzGerald JM, Sin DD, Tavakoli H, Sadatsafavi M. Economic burden of multimorbidity in patients with severe asthma: a 20-year population-based study. Thorax. 2019;74:1113–9.
10. Tavakoli H, Johnson KM, FitzGerald JM, Sin DD, Gershon AS, Kendzerska T, et al. Trends in prescriptions and costs of inhaled medications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a 19-year population-based study from Canada. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2019;14:2003–13.
11. Khakban A, FitzGerald JM, Tavakoli H, Lynd L, Ehteshami-Afshar S, Sadatsafavi M. Extent, trends, and determinants of controller/reliever balance in mild asthma: a 14-year population-based study. Respir Res. 2019;20:44.
12. Poureslami I, Shum J, Lester RT, Tavakoli H, Dorscheid DR, FitzGerald JM. A pilot randomized controlled trial on the impact of text messaging check-ins and a web-based asthma action plan versus a written action plan on asthma exacerbations. J Asthma Off J Assoc Care Asthma. 2018;:1–13.
13. Tavakoli H, Mark FitzGerald J, Lynd LD, Sadatsafavi M. Predictors of inappropriate and excessive use of reliever medications in asthma: a 16-year population-based study. BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18:33.
14. Tavakoli H, FitzGerald JM, Chen W, Lynd L, Kendzerska T, Aaron S, et al. Ten-year trends in direct costs of asthma: a population-based study. Allergy. 2016.
15. Johnson KM, FitzGerald JM, Tavakoli H, Chen W, Sadatsafavi M. Stability of Asthma Symptom Control in a Longitudinal Study of Mild-Moderate Asthmatics. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017.
16. FitzGerald JM, Tavakoli H, Lynd LD, Al Efraij K, Sadatsafavi M. The impact of inappropriate use of short acting beta agonists in asthma. Respir Med. 2017;131:135–40.
17. Sadatsafavi M, Tavakoli H, Lynd L, FitzGerald JM. Has asthma medication use caught up with the evidence? A 12-year population-based study of trends. Chest. 2016.
18. Wong A, Tavakoli H, Sadatsafavi M, Carlsten C, FitzGerald JM. Asthma control and productivity loss in those with work-related asthma: a population-based study. J Asthma Off J Assoc Care Asthma. 2016;:0.
19. Sadatsafavi M, Chen W, Tavakoli H, Rolf JD, Rousseau R, FitzGerald JM, et al. Saving in medical costs by achieving guideline-based asthma symptom control: a population-based study. Allergy. 2016;71:371–7.
20. Sadatsafavi M, Tavakoli H, Kendzerska T, Gershon A, To T, Aaron SD, et al. History of Asthma in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A Comparative Study of Economic Burden. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2016;13:188–96.
21. Allen AJMH, Amram O, Tavakoli H, Almeida FR, Hamoda M, Ayas NT. Relationship between Travel Time from Home to a Regional Sleep Apnea Clinic in British Columbia, Canada, and the Severity of Obstructive Sleep. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2016;13:719–23.
22. Chen W, Lynd LD, FitzGerald JM, Marra CA, Balshaw R, To T, et al. Excess medical costs in patients with asthma and the role of comorbidity. Eur Respir J. 2016;48:1584–92.
23. Ehteshami-Afshar S, FitzGerald JM, Carlsten C, Tavakoli H, Rousseau R, Tan WC, et al. The impact of comorbidities on productivity loss in asthma patients. Respir Res. 2016;17:106.
24. Abolhassani F, Moayyeri A, Naghavi M, Soltani A, Larijani B, Shalmani HT. Incidence and characteristics of falls leading to hip fracture in Iranian population. Bone. 2006;39:408–13.
25. Soleimani A, Moayyeri A, Akhondzadeh S, Sadatsafavi M, Tavakoli Shalmani H, Soltanzadeh A. Frequency of myasthenic crisis in relation to thymectomy in generalized myasthenia gravis: a 17-year experience. BMC Neurol. 2004;4:12.
Methodological partnership
Discuss specialized statistical programming, validation of predictive models, or academic collaboration on complex clinical datasets.