AO PEER

Clinical research education

AO PEER

Develop practical skills and knowledge in clinical research from study design and statistics to scientific publishing and research management.

Whether you are starting your first research project or strengthening existing research capabilities, AO PEER supports your continued development in clinical research.

AO PEER program includes:

  • Online course: a self-directed course covering the principles of clinical research
  • AO PEER platform: free supplementary resources across seven topic areas, available to all AO members
  • Face-to-face courses: in-person training for hands-on, collaborative learning

Start your clinical research journey


Build foundational clinical research skills through AO PEER’s 20-hour self-directed online course covering research methodology, evidence-based medicine, GCP, scientific publishing, and study planning.

Built for every stage of your medical career

Residents and fellows

Residents and
fellows

Get confident in clinical research from day one.

Clinicians and surgeons

Clinicians and surgeons

Design stronger studies and read statistics with confidence.

Researchers and academics

Researchers and academics

Sharpen your methodology and get work published faster.

Healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals

Turn research evidence into better decision making.

AO PEER Platform: Explore resources for clinical research education


Free supplementary resources to support your AO PEER course learning. Explore at your own pace.

Fundamentals of Research

Fundamentals of Research

Get grounded in the principles every clinical researcher needs from research ethics to evidence-based medicine and GCP.
Critical Reading

Critical Reading

Learn to read a study with a sharp eye, appraise evidence, spot weaknesses and draw your own conclusions.
Grant writing and study protocols

Grant writing and study protocols

Turn your research idea into a fundable proposal from shaping your question to writing a protocol that stands out.
Statistics

Statistics

Make sense of the numbers behind clinical studies, the key statistical concepts you'll actually encounter in practice.
Publishing

Publishing

Take your research from results to published paper: writing, submission and navigating peer review.
Study Management

Study Management

Keep your study on track: practical tools for coordinating teams, documenting progress and managing the day-to-day.
Data Management

Data Management

Collect clean, reliable data from the start and keep it that way throughout your study.

Your research journey with AO PEER

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Learn

Practical clinical research skills

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Apply

Real-world tools and methods

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Advance

Publish, collaborate and grow

AO PEER task force

Dino Samartzis

Dino Samartzis

United States

AO Spine

Frankie Leung

Frankie Leung

Hong Kong

AO Trauma

Matthew Allen

Matthew Allen

United Kingdom

AO VET

Risto Kontio

Risto Kontio

Finland

AO CMF

AO PEER is constantly evolving. AO PEER profits from the wealth of expertise available within the AO—through a commitment to best practices and excellence in research and education. AO PEER leverages these trusted resources, which were developed and evaluated by the AO PEER task force consisting of distinguished surgeon-researchers with the support of the AO Education Institute (AO EI), the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), and the AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC).

Start your clinical research journey

Build foundational clinical research skills through AO PEER’s 20-hour self-directed online course covering research methodology, evidence-based medicine, GCP, scientific publishing, and study planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

AO PEER is designed for clinicians, surgeons, residents, fellows, researchers and healthcare professionals who want to build or strengthen their clinical research skills, whether you are just starting out or looking to deepen existing knowledge.

AO PEER covers the full spectrum of clinical research: research methodology, study design, biostatistics, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), ethics, scientific publishing, study management and data management.

Yes. AO PEER includes foundational resources designed for healthcare professionals at the start of their research journey, as well as more advanced material for experienced researchers. The content is structured to be relevant at every career stage.

Yes. Biostatistics is one of the core topics covered in both the AO PEER course and the AO PEER Platform. The resources help you understand and apply the statistical concepts most commonly encountered in clinical studies and scientific literature: from interpreting study results to evaluating the quality of evidence.

Yes. Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the international ethical and scientific standard for designing and conducting clinical research involving human participants, is covered as part of the AO PEER course. It forms an essential component of the research fundamentals curriculum.

The AO PEER Platform, which includes supplementary learning resources across seven topic areas, is free for all AO members. The AO PEER online course (SDOC) is a paid programme. Visit the registration page for current pricing and enrolment details.

The AO PEER online course is a 20-hour programme covering the core principles of clinical research. It is designed to fit around a busy clinical schedule and can be completed in the way that suits you best.

The AO PEER course is a structured 20-hour online programme that guides you through the core principles of clinical research from start to finish. The AO PEER Platform is a free supplementary resource library, available to all AO members, organised into seven topic areas including statistics, publishing and data management. The two work well together: the course provides the learning framework, and the Platform lets you go deeper on the topics that matter most to you.

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