The article by Richard D Riley, Paul C Lambert, and Ghada Abo-Zaid discusses the advantages and methods of conducting meta-analyses using individual participant data (IPD) compared to aggregate data. IPD meta-analyses offer several benefits, including more accurate and reliable results, the ability to assess treatment effects across subgroups, and the potential for more powerful analyses. The authors outline the rationale for IPD meta-analyses, describe the statistical methods for conducting such analyses (one-step and two-step approaches), and provide examples of how IPD meta-analyses can yield different conclusions from aggregate data meta-analyses. They also address the challenges and disadvantages of IPD meta-analyses, such as the resource-intensive nature of obtaining individual participant data and the need for clear reporting guidelines. The article emphasizes the importance of IPD meta-analyses in advancing evidence-based medicine and highlights the growing trend of their application in various medical fields.The article by Richard D Riley, Paul C Lambert, and Ghada Abo-Zaid discusses the advantages and methods of conducting meta-analyses using individual participant data (IPD) compared to aggregate data. IPD meta-analyses offer several benefits, including more accurate and reliable results, the ability to assess treatment effects across subgroups, and the potential for more powerful analyses. The authors outline the rationale for IPD meta-analyses, describe the statistical methods for conducting such analyses (one-step and two-step approaches), and provide examples of how IPD meta-analyses can yield different conclusions from aggregate data meta-analyses. They also address the challenges and disadvantages of IPD meta-analyses, such as the resource-intensive nature of obtaining individual participant data and the need for clear reporting guidelines. The article emphasizes the importance of IPD meta-analyses in advancing evidence-based medicine and highlights the growing trend of their application in various medical fields.