We are pleased to share the winners of the 2021 Cochrane-REWARD prize.

The Cochrane-REWARD prize recognizes successful local or pilot initiatives that have potential to reduce research waste globally if scaled up. Cochrane has funded the prize since it began in 2017. For this iteration of the prize, submissions related to tackling research waste relevant to COVID-19 were encouraged.

The prize ceremony took place on 1 March virtually (recordings are available below). Two representatives of the prize committee – Matt Westmore, Chief Executive of the UK Health Research Authority, and Lex Bouter, Professor of Methodology and Integrity at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – joined to announce the winners, who gave short presentations on their initiatives. Lisa Bero, Cochrane’s Senior Research Integrity Editor, also joined the session to give an update on Cochrane’s research integrity agenda.

2021 Cochrane-REWARD prize winners
This year was particularly competitive, with many very strong contenders for the prize committee to consider. Thank you to all who submitted nominations, and congratulations to the winners below:

First prize: COVID-END
The COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END) was awarded first prize. Jeremy Grimshaw and John Lavis accepted the prize on behalf of the network.

COVID-END is a time-limited network of 58 global evidence synthesis, guidance and decision support partner organizations established to better coordinate the evidence synthesis response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce research waste.

Together with its partners, COVID-END has worked to reduce waste in all five stages of research. Selected highlights include:

• Setting up a global horizon scanning panel to proactively identify recurrent and emerging issues requiring evidence syntheses in the coming months.
• Developing interactive flow-diagrams for researchers and guideline developers planning to work on a new review or guideline pointing them to helpful resources, while encouraging them to ensure that they are not duplicating the efforts of another group.
• Creating an inventory of best evidence syntheses highlighting quality up-to-date living syntheses that make it easier for decision makers to find the best evidence.
• Establishing a COVID-END community and living hub of COVID-19 knowledge hubs to link evidence synthesis, guidance and decision-support groups around the world interested in learning from others and sharing best practices.
• Providing the foundation for the Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges, a report which aims to seize on the once-in-a-generation focus on evidence presented by the pandemic, calling for sustained efforts to systematize the successful aspects of using evidence and to address the shortfalls.

The prize committee was particularly impressed with COVID-END’s global reach, which includes participation from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The committee also saw that such an approach could be adapted and deployed for other crises in the future.

Second prize: MRC-NIHR Trials Methodology Research Partnership
The MRC-NIHR Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP) received the second prize. Paula Williamson accepted the prize on behalf of the initiative.

TMRP is a community of practice which draws together several networks, academic institutions and partners engaged in trials and trials methodology research to strengthen links between trialists, methods researchers, clinicians, patients, the public and funders. It includes eight thematic working groups on topics such as adaptive designs, outcomes, statistical analysis and trial conduct.

As well as leading to more impactful research and less duplication of effort, better networking facilitated by TRMP enabled researchers to pivot and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selected network projects include:

• A priority-setting exercise to develop a trials methodology research agenda, feeding more specific exercises for recruitment and retention research, patient and public involvement in methods research, and priorities for methods research in LMICs.
• Designing clinical trials, including several platform trials of potential COVID-19 treatments, including the RECOVERY, AGILE, and HEAL-COVID trials.
• Developing COVID-19 core outcome sets (COS), including a ‘meta-COS’ for acute COVID-19, a COS for COVID-19 transmission prevention and a COS for Long COVID.
• Producing guidance and tools for researchers to support transparent and complete reporting of research.

The panel was very impressed with TRMP’s large body of work to date. We saw great potential to improve the overall standards of trial design, analysis and reporting if the approach were to be scaled up across further contexts.

Thank you to the Cochrane-REWARD prize committee
Special thanks to the Cochrane-REWARD prize committee for reviewing the entries during what was an especially competitive year for the prize. In 2021, the prize committee was:

• Lex Bouter, Professor of Methodology and Integrity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Sabine Kleinert (chair), Senior Executive Editor, The Lancet
• Joan Marsh, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet Psychiatry
• Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, Professor in Evidence-Based Laboratory Animal Science, Radboud University Medical Center
• Kieron Rooney, Associate Professor, University of Sydney
• Matt Westmore, Chief Executive, UK Health Research Authority

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Covidence is a web-based software platform that streamlines the production of systematic reviews, including Cochrane Reviews. They have recently announced the launch of the Covidence Global Scholarship Program to financially support the next generation of superstar evidence researchers around the world.  With a $75,000 funding pool they will be supporting  some of the world’s brightest PhD and Masters students so they can spend more time creating knowledge that will make a big impact in the world. 

 

 Applicants to the Covidence Global Scholarship must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a current PhD or Master by dissertation student of any nationality
• Be enrolled in any discipline at an accredited university during this academic year (2022)
• Be undertaking or will be starting a systematic review as part of the dissertation in the six months following the award (June-Dec 2022)

Covidence will be awarding 52 scholarships in total. Applications are open until Thursday 31st March 11.59pm EST.

• Learn more about the Covidence Global Scholarship Program and apply

 

To support the Global Scholarship Evidence, Covidence is  seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals to serve on the Scholarship selection panel. To be eligible to participate, panel members must hold a Masters or PhD degree, or have equivalent experience. To ensure balanced representation on the panel, they encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and experience. Panel members will receive a USD$1000 honorarium. 

If you have any questions about submitting an Expression of Interest, please contact Nancy Owens, Head of Community Management at Covidence, at nancy@covidence.org. Expressions of interest for panelists close on Thursday, 31 March 2022, at 5.00 pm GMT. 

• Express your interest in becoming a panel member

 

About Covidence: 
Covidence is a SaaS social enterprise platform used around the world and by some of the world’s leading institutions to accelerate the systematic review workflow, making it easier to  turn the flood of new scientific research into high-quality, trustworthy knowledge summaries. Established in 2014,  Covidence provides free access to users in low-income countries and those participating in COVID-19 research.  To find out more about Covidence go to www.covidence.org

Monday, February 28, 2022

Lifeology’s tagline is ‘The place where science and art converge’. They offer a platform that brings together scientists, artists, and storytellers to help people better understand and engage with science and health information and research. One of the main ways they meet their objectives is through beautifully illustrated, science-backed, bite-sized ‘flashcard’ courses about science and health-related topics aimed at the general public and students.

Knowing more about the people in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), how they faced adversity and overcame obstacles may inspire others to choose STEAM careers. This was the goal of Lifeology's Historic STEAM Heros card deck. Though art and storytelling they share the story of historical STEAM figures and their excellent but often under-promoted work.

Anne Anderson is included in this STEAM Heros deck. Anne Anderson was a contributor to the stream of thinking and effort that gave birth to evidence-based health care and led to the development of Cochrane. We spoke with the artist who illustrated the card, Anna Doherty, to learn more about the project. 

Hi, Anna! Our Cochrane Community always finds it interesting to learn the backstory of things and learn more about people. Could you tell us a bit more about yourself?

Hi! I’m an illustrator and author from Edinburgh, Scotland. Ever since I was very small, I’ve always enjoyed drawing, so when I finished school I went to study illustration at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. After graduating, I decided to study a masters in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Since graduating there, I’ve been working on a mixture of illustrating picture books, science illustration, and other little projects. I now have ten illustrated picture books published, some of which I wrote too! I am especially excited about working in non-fiction, which is why I think I enjoy science illustration so much because I love learning new facts and finding fun new things to share with people. I have a mini-series called Fantastically Feminist which focuses on celebrating stories of amazing women. I wanted to make space for kids to read in not only showed that everyone should be equal and that anyone can do anything regardless of their gender, but also celebrated women who struggled to try and make things more equal for the rest of us in brilliant ways.

What an interesting mix of projects! How would you describe your art style?

I would describe my art style as digital mixed media. I usually draw on a Wacom tablet, which is connected to my computer. When I draw on the tablet, the marks I’m making come up on my screen in photoshop. I use a selection of brushes and add scanned textures that I’ve made with ink and paint to add some interest.

You’ve done some science communication and some lovely ‘Women in STEAM’ work. Can you tell us how you got into that? 

I got into science communication through my picture book Ada Lovelace. I had always loved maths at school, so when I first heard about Ada, I was fascinated, and I started absorbing every fact about her that I could lay my hands on. After I published my book about her, it opened the door to the world of science illustration, and I was particularly excited about promoting more women in STEAM. Ada’s work wasn’t really recognised until after her death, so it’s amazing to be able to celebrate women and gender-diverse scientists who are working today!

Anne Anderson is a beloved person in the Cochrane Community - we do a walk every year in her honour to raise money for an annual award in her name. Can you tell us a bit about working on that artwork?

I loved working on Anne Anderson’s illustration because she wasn’t a story I had explored before. It was fun to draw a Scottish scientist! I started by reading the research that Lifeology had collated already, and did a little more digging myself. With every ‘Historic STEAM Hero’ illustration, I start by drawing the portrait so I can get to know the person a little better first. Then I make a little list of the key things I want to include in the illustration, and think about how I can represent them. Because I work digitally, I tend to draw all the little icons first and then move them around the face to find the best composition. Each illustration is greyscaled with one colour, and I chose purple for Anne because it’s the colour of International Women’s Day and represents Cochrane! 

• Visit Anna’s website
• Follow Anna on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok
• View Lifeology's Historic STEAM Heros card deck

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Assistant Managing Editor/Information Specialist, fixed term to 31 March 2023
Deadline to apply: 7 March 2022
London, UK

Cochrane Neuromuscular is seeking an Information Specialist/Assistant Managing Editor on a fixed-term basis to 31 March 2023. This is an opportunity to contribute to evidence synthesis for the benefit of people affected by neuromuscular diseases.

Cochrane Neuromuscular is part of Cochrane, an independent, global organisation dedicated to synthesising research evidence to improve health. The group publishes reviews of evidence in neuromuscular disease in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). Cochrane Neuromuscular is hosted by University College London NHS Hospitals Trust.

As postholder, you will have two primary areas of responsibility: literature searching, and assisting the Managing Editor in the management of submitted reviews. You will develop search strategies, run searches, and ensure correct documentation. Editorial tasks will include providing information to authors, checking manuscripts, overseeing peer review, tracking progress, and liaising between authors, editors, and reviewers. The appointee will also provide the review group with administrative support and may have the opportunity to assist review authors with systematic review tasks.

For details see nhsjobs.com. Closing date 7 March 2022.

Monday, February 28, 2022 Category: Jobs

• Full time fixed term until February 2023 (possibility of extension)
• Great opportunity for an early career researcher to join a supportive and well respected team, making an impact in health based research
• Base Salary $98,645 + 17% superannuation
• Applications Close: Sunday 27 February 2022

About the opportunity
The NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre has an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to a range of projects using NextGen evidence synthesis methodologies and conducting meta-research.

Projects will likely include; finding and implementing ideal strategies in childhood obesity prevention interventions with the TOPCHILD collaboration, assessing eating disorder risk in obesity treatment, and conducting meta-research to find and reduce reasons for research waste and increase collaboration and coordination in research.

This is a research-only position, based at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre. The successful applicant will be working in the NextGen Evidence Synthesis team within the Evidence Integration Team. There will be an opportunity to develop NextGen evidence synthesis specialist skills, and to attend academic conferences to present project work. The successful applicant will be expected to make an active contribution to papers and new grant submissions arising from this work.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• undertake systematic reviews
• work on individual participant data meta-analyses with large data sets
• work with a large number of international collaborators and other stakeholders.

About you

• a strong research background including a PhD qualification and competitive publication track record in a relevant field (systematic reviews, obesity, neonatology, epidemiology, public health, quantitative research or biostatistics)
• formal qualifications in research methods, such as Masters level qualifications in epidemiology, biostatistics or public health is highly desired
• ability to work independently, conceive, initiate, organise and manage projects
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• the successful applicant will combine quantitative research skills with excellent communication and scientific writing skills
• experience in systematic reviews and meta-analyses is highly desirable
• experience in research implementation and communication with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. policy makers, consumers) is desirable, but not essential.

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Sponsorship/work rights for Australia
Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For a continuing position, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

Australian Temporary Residents currently employed at the University of Sydney may be considered for a fixed term contract for the length of their visa, depending on the requirements of the hiring area and the position.

Pre-employment checks
Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement
At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community which reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

How to apply

• Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted here 
• If you are a current employee of the University or a contingent worker with access to Workday, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.
• For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or support filling out this application, please contact Lena Germinarios, Recruitment Operations, by email to lena.germinarios@sydney.edu.au
• The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
• Click to view the Position Description for this role.
• Applications Close Sunday 27 February 2022 11:59 PM

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Category: Jobs

Specifications: Part time (0.5FTE) Permanent/Consultancy contract dependant on location
Salary: £48,500 per annum full time equivalent
Location: Remote, flexible
Application Closing Date:  Friday 4 March 2022

We are looking for a part-time editor to join the Cochrane Clinical Answers (CCA) team.

CCAs provide a readable, digestible, clinically focused entry point to rigorous research from Cochrane Reviews. They are designed to be actionable and to inform point-of-care decision-making and are published in the Cochrane Library (cochranelibrary.com).

Working with the CCA team, the editor will:

• develop and edit a derivative product that supports the relevance and applicability of Cochrane Reviews, and their presentation and delivery to healthcare professionals;
• ensure content is developed to best practice, delivered to agreed publishing date, and is consistent with Cochrane’s vision and values;
• support the CCA Senior Editor with the editorial work and processes of the CCA team (including the CCA Editor in Chief and Cochrane’s publisher), with the aim of improving quality and efficiency through systems and guidance.

Cochrane is a global, independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings to produce the best available evidence on what can work, what might harm and where more research is needed. Our work is recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

For this role, an understanding of Cochrane’s work and health research more generally is an advantage, but not essential.

The majority of Cochrane Central Executive staff are based in London, UK, but we will consider candidates from any location.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.  
• The deadline to receive your application is by Friday 4 March.  
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.
• Interviews to be held on: tbc

Thursday, February 17, 2022 Category: Jobs

Location: Oxford
Salary: £33,309 to £40,927
Hours: Part Time
Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract
Closes: 11th March 2022
Job Ref: 155759

Oxford Population Health (The Nuffield Department of Population Health) contains world-renowned population health research groups and provides an excellent environment for multi-disciplinary research and teaching. The Clinical Trial Service Unit is a major international research institute within Oxford Population Health, and is one of the world’s leading centres for research into chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.

As a Systematic Reviewer you will work with the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) group in a multidisciplinary research environment. You will provide systematic review expertise to authors of ongoing EPOC systematic reviews, and take a lead or collaborate with existing authors on completing and publishing high priority EPOC reviews.

To be considered you will have a PhD in a health related subject (or equivalent experience), an understanding of statistics and experience of conducting and publishing systematic reviews. You will also have strong quantitative skills the ability to communication clearly with others.

• Apply for the role here
• The post is part-time (between 60-80%FTE) and fixed term to 31st March 2023.
  
• The closing date for completed applications is 12.00 noon on 11th March 2022.   
• Contact Email :recruit@ndph.ox.ac.uk

Thursday, February 10, 2022 Category: Jobs

Register for Cochrane Connects meeting on research waste, including Cochrane-REWARD prize ceremony, and research integrity

Cochrane Connects - 1 March 17:00 – 18:00 GMT (check in your time zone) – Register Now

Join us for the next Cochrane Connects meeting, which will focus on research waste and research integrity.

This special edition of Cochrane Connects will feature the Cochrane-REWARD prize ceremony. Since 2017, the prize has gathered, assessed and publicized local or pilot initiatives with the potential to reduce research waste if scaled up globally. We will be joined by representatives of the external prize committee, who will announce the winners of the first and second prizes live. The winners will share more about their initiatives in short presentations and answer audience questions.

There will also be an update on Cochrane’s research integrity activities from Senior Research Integrity Editor Prof Lisa Bero, followed by an opportunity for interactive discussion on what more Cochrane could do in this area, and on research waste in the future.

Cochrane Connects is a series of free online events open to everyone. You will have the opportunity to meet colleagues and peers, hear about and celebrate achievements from the community and take part in active discussions to help shape Cochrane for the future.

Register now by following the link here.

Monday, February 14, 2022

New Cochrane Convenes report recommends urgent action among those who fund, generate and use evidence to ensure the world is better prepared.

Two years in, it is clear that COVID-19 has created an unprecedented focus on health evidence for people working in governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations as well as members of the public. Responsible governments and other bodies have “followed the science” or claimed to.

Since the early days of the pandemic, Cochrane and other research synthesis organizations have been curating and analysing the thousands of studies being published on COVID-19 to help decision makers make sense of the evidence. The arrival of Omicron reinforced the need for timely evidence as decision makers across the globe scrambled to guide healthcare services and the public once again.

Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor in Chief, Cochrane explains, “Like many others, I have been deeply concerned about the widening of existing inequities and the way that those already vulnerable have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. As a community of evidence producers and users, we were not as prepared to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as we could have been.”

Seeking to learn from the experience, in October 2021, Cochrane, invited key thought leaders from around the world to reflect on their experiences of producing, sharing and using evidence during the pandemic. Working with co-sponsor WHO, and co-organizer COVID-END, the event was convened with a view to making a call to action on areas for improvement. A resulting report, published today, discusses the challenges faced and presents recommendations from the meeting.

The report highlights three major challenges:

• The evidence response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been inequitable –in terms of the focus of the evidence, who has been producing it and who it reaches
• Current scientific methods, tools and processes have been pushed to their limits in trying to answer questions at the speed demanded
• In the face of an infodemic, researchers have struggled to communicate scientific uncertainties and gain trust in the evidence 

Over the course of 2022, Cochrane will engage with a wider group of experts to take forward the most pressing recommendations, including:

• Building support for creation of evidence synthesis unit/s in low and middle-income countries to help address global imbalance. This will mean some of the world’s poorest communities will have access to relevant evidence on what works in their region.
• Investing in science communications which will strengthen our ability to communicate uncertainty in a way citizens understand, as well as being more proactive about science communication. 
• Strengthening of tools, methods, processes and relationships to ensure a rapid and relevant evidence response at national and global levels for the next global health emergency. 

The report also calls on other key stakeholders in evidence generation and use to take urgent action:

• Funders to provide resources to meet national and international research needs, which must address inequities; and particularly to fund evidence generation, communication, networks and infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries
• Politicians to demand evidence; be transparent about how (and what) evidence is used in decision making; and to hold to account those deliberately creating and sharing mis/disinformation 
• Researchers to support research transparency and data sharing; and raise the alarm about fraudulent studies
• Science communicators to learn what works in communicating uncertainty, generating trust in evidence and countering mis/disinformation

Dr John Grove, Director of the Quality assurance, norms and standards department, Science division. WHO HQ, said,

“WHO, with our clear global mandate, will continue to bring focus to the priority questions, design what is most relevant for countries, combat misinformation, push for reducing inequities of access to the best science, and redouble activities to lead and coordinate these aspects of the response. Our main platform will continue to be building out a living approach to guidance development and implementation.”

 
Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor in Chief, Cochrane said,

"We have all seen how the COVID-19 pandemic and its wider impacts have claimed many lives around the world. Cochrane Convenes was organized out of a sense of responsibility to learn from our experiences of the evidence response so that we can be better equipped for future health emergencies. 

The Cochrane community is a powerful and diverse global network, which we can harness to drive change. Of course, we cannot, and will not, do this in isolation. I hope that this report is therefore a call to action to funders, political leaders and other parts of the research community to join us in taking the recommendations forward."

• Download the full report and summaries
• Learn more about Cochrane Convenes

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Specifications: Permanent
Salary: circa £40,000 per annum
Location: UK
Application Closing Date:  Friday 25 February 2022

Cochrane’s Methods Support Unit was established in 2019 to provide methodological support in the production of high quality, high priority Cochrane systematic reviews.

The Methods Support Unit provides guidance and hands on statistical and methods support to Cochrane systematic reviews, including those using complex methods or non-randomised study designs. The unit comprises two part time Statistical Editors and one full time Evidence Synthesis Methodology Editor.  

As Evidence Synthesis Methodology Editor, you will provide methodological support and general systematic review methods advice for reviews in process, field queries from the Community Support Team, and provide methods peer review as requested. You may also be required to provide subject matter expertise for the development of specific features in tools and software used in the production of Cochrane Reviews.

The role will require a very good understanding of methods such as the assessment of risk of bias for different study designs, application of GRADE and interpretation of findings in the review. An understanding of statistical meta-analysis methods is advantageous in the role, although specialist statistical editors in the unit will be able to provide this advice.

The majority of Cochrane Central Executive staff are located in London, UK, however flexible location or a part-time appointment are possible for the right candidate.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.  
• The deadline to receive your application is by Friday 25 February.  
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Category: Jobs

Recent removal of Cochrane’s Instagram post and shadowban highlight the realities of Cochrane’s call against misinformation

Cochrane’s health evidence syntheses are recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information. Our reviews are used to support global and national health guidelines and policy. We advocate for evidence-informed healthcare and make our trusted evidence accessible and available to all. One way we do this is using social media to reach different audiences. 

In recent days, Cochrane has again been the subject of an Instagram misinformation blunder, with a post about a Cochrane Review on Ivermectin for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 being removed from the platform. Also Cochrane’s Instagram account has been denied the verification blue check mark several times. We are aware that other research publishers, such as the BMJ, have also experienced similar issues.

The first time this happened in November, Cochrane’s Instagram account was ‘shadowbanned’ for a few weeks; people could not tag or mention @cochraneorg on the platform. While little specifics were given, there was a notification that the account ‘repeatedly posted content that goes against Community Guidelines on false content about COVID-19 or vaccines.’ This shadowban happened just days after Cochrane helped lead a campaign to tackle misinformation for World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day and launched a course with Lifeology about identifying and preventing infodemics.

“The removal of our Cochrane post on Instagram comes just days before the launch of the Cochrane Convenes Report which calls for generating trust in evidence and countering mis/disinformation.” says Cochrane’s Editor in Chief, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser.

Drawing on experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cochrane Convenes brought together leaders in health research and health evidence to explore and recommend the changes needed in evidence synthesis to prepare for and respond to future global health emergencies. The full report of the recommendations is being released 16 February.

“It’s not clear if there is an issue with Instagram’s algorithm or if the issue lies with people ‘gaming’ policies and reporting posts as misinformation when they are not. What is clear is that there is an issue with how you hold those deliberately creating and sharing mis/disinformation to account and how you form accreditation and approval for official sources of evidence that have met certain quality control standards. We need to make it easier for people to access trustworthy information – and that includes on social media.”

Cochrane is a proud supporter of WHO’s call to action on infodemic management and is currently collaborating with science communicators at Lifeology and the Association for Healthcare Social Media  and welcomes the opportunity to work directly with social media platforms and with others interested in tackling misinformation.

• Cochrane Convenes website Full report and call for action released 16 Feb
• Free Course: What is an infodemic and how can we prevent it? Available in English, French, Malay, and Spanish

 

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Location: Flexible location (remote working) in the UK.
Specifications: Permanent contract.
Hours: Full-time week 37.5 hours.
Salary: £52,000 per annum.
Application Closing Date: 25 April

The Systems and Product Development Editor will provide strategic editorial and methods leadership to other departments to ensure editorial and methods strategy is reflected in Cochrane’s products, processes and technology.

The key purpose of the role is to deliver cross-departmental strategic objectives and targets by:

1. Working closely with the Head of Change Management and Deputy Editor in Chief to help develop and deliver technological elements of Cochrane’s strategy for review production
2. Providing editorial and methods oversight to align review production developments with Cochrane’s product development strategy
3. Providing editorial and methods oversight to develop Cochrane’s review production systems and processes to deliver the review production strategy
4. Engaging with members of the Cochrane community to help develop new products, systems and tools

Cochrane is a global, independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings to produce the best available evidence on what can work, what might harm and where more research is needed. Our work is recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

• For further information on the job description and how to apply, please click here. 
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.
• Deadline for applications: 25 April 2022 (Midnight GMT).

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Category: Jobs

Specifications: Full Time (Fixed Term/Consultancy role)
Salary: circa £40,000 per annum
Location: Flexible
Application Closing Date:  Sunday 13 March 2022

Cochrane has established a centrally-resourced Editorial Service to support the efficient and timely publication of high-quality systematic reviews in the Cochrane Library. The reviews that are published through the Central Editorial Service address some of the research questions considered to be the most important to decision makers.

The Central Editorial Service is also running a pilot of approaches to increase editorial efficiency and integrity within Cochrane. The Managing Editor role will play a key role in operationalising this pilot.

Reporting to the Executive Editor of the Central Editorial Service, the Managing Editor will manage the editorial process of protocols and reviews submitted to the Central Editorial Service. The role-holder should be alert to the demands of delivering high-quality review content for publication in a timely fashion, and work to ensure that deadlines can be met.   

Cochrane is a global, independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings to produce the best available evidence on what can work, what might harm and where more research is needed. Our work is recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information. An understanding of Cochrane’s work and health research more generally is an advantage, but not essential.

The majority of Cochrane Central Executive staff are located in London, UK, however flexible location or a part-time appointment are possible for the right candidate.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here. 
• The deadline to receive your application is by Sunday 13 March. 
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Category: Jobs

In recognition of International Women's Day (IWD) happening March 8th, Cochrane will be hosting several events and activities. The IWD 2022 theme is “breaking gender bias and reducing stereotypes and discrimination to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

The Annual Anne Anderson Walk is a cherished annual social event in Cochrane, where attendees walk to celebrate women's contributions to Cochrane while raising money to annual Anne Anderson Award.  Everyone is welcome to snap a picture of themselves and share their walk with the Community. Pictures will be posted on social media and the website as we encourage each other to get out on a walk - everyone is welcome to join in! 

• Learn more about the virtual Anne Anderson Walk and view pictures

Calling all science communicators and artists! Cochrane will be hosting an exciting challenge in collaboration with Lifeology. We would like to see your art and graphics that illustrate the IWD theme in relation to healthcare and/or evidence synthesis. 

Top submissions will be promoted on Cochrane social media pages and platforms, and the winner will be announced as part of the Cochrane US Women’s Day Panel and with an interview news item on Cochrane.org.  The winning graphic will also be used for a tote bag and mug, with credit to the creator, and will be available for purchase in the Cochrane Store.

Submission criteria:

• Graphic should resonates with evidence synthesis / health science and this year’s IWD theme.  
• .png file type preferred, full colour,  high resolution graphic with a DPI of 150
• Follow @Cochrane_US on Twitter 
• Email submission to tduque@cochrane.org with subject “IWD Graphic Submission”
• Accepted until March 7, 2022

 

Join Cochrane US and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for an enlightening and informative panel to highlight gender bias in health science and evidence synthesis. The panel will talk about their career, history, motivations, and encounters with gender bias.

• 8 March 2022
• 11am- 12:00PM EST (view in your time zone)
• Free online event - everyone welcome!
• View the panel information on the Cochrane US website
• Register now

Join Cochrane US and Cochrane Early Career Professionals Network (ECP) for an interactive hour of chats and speed networking.  Find out more about Cochrane, EPCs, and meet one-on-one virtually.  You'll get the opportunity to network with other attendees, with each random introduction only lasting 3 minutes. 

• 8 March 2022
• 12- 1:00PM EST (view in your time zone)
• Free online event - everyone welcome!
• Register now

Únase a este evento especial gratuito con oradores de América Latina y España. Organizado por los participantes del Cochrane US Mentoring Program.

• 8 March 2022
• 3pm GST (view in your time zone)
• Free online event - everyone welcome!
• See the full agenda and register

• VIDEO: 2021 International Women's Day Panel on diversity in health evidence synthesis
• Celebrating Anne Anderson and Cochrane diversity with new designs: interview with artist Heather Tubwon
• Cochrane Indonesia’s Director reflects on her continued contributions to maternal and perinatal health and the work of Cochrane

Friday, March 4, 2022

Specifications: Fixed term post until 31 March 2023. Part or full-time. 
Location: Nottingham, UK
Salary: £27924 to £40927 per annum
Application deadline: 16 Feb 2022

A new opportunity has arisen for two Systematic Reviewers to join the Cochrane Skin team at its editorial base within the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology (CEBD), School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. CEBD has an international reputation for research into the prevention and treatment of skin disease with a focus on delivering independent clinical research that informs the NHS.

Cochrane Skin is part of the international Cochrane organisation, and is the editorial base for the preparation and dissemination of Cochrane systematic reviews on the treatment and prevention of skin diseases. It is one of 62 Cochrane review groups worldwide which contribute to Cochrane, and this busy editorial base currently has around 20 review teams preparing protocols or reviews for publication or updating published reviews. In working as a Systematic Reviewer, you will lead and support systematic reviews within the Cochrane Skin portfolio in order to ensure the delivery of high-quality, timely evidence synthesis to support healthcare decision-making. You will be responsible for working with review teams to support title screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment and contributing to the write-up of Cochrane Skin systematic reviews, and will ensure that your work adheres to relevant methodological guidance. 

They are seeking an individual with proven knowledge and experience of involvement in systematic reviews e.g. by participating as an author in a Cochrane systematic review or conducting a systematic review as a lead author. You should possess a good understanding of systematic review procedures, including knowledge of risk of bias assessment with an ability to critically appraise clinical trials. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, organisational skills and the ability to evaluate published clinical trial manuscripts are also essential. They particularly welcome applications from candidates with knowledge of Cochrane risk of bias 2.0 methodology.

• Read the full job advert and apply

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 Category: Jobs

Specifications: Permanent, Full time
Salary: circa £55,000 per annum
Location: Copenhagen
Application deadline: 14 February 2022

Are you passionate about quality software? Do you have a drive to make a difference for health care world-wide?
We are a global, independent organization that strives to inform health-care decisions every day. We gather and summarize the best evidence from research to help doctors, nurses, patients, carers, researchers, funders, and policymakers. We do not accept commercial or conflicted funding, and work to minimize risk of bias, in order to generate authoritative and reliable information.

Our development team is located in Copenhagen and supports the process of creating systematic reviews through a web-based application. We are a group of motivated, mission-driven people who are energized by working together. We care about our users, taking pride in delivering features which both ensure the quality of Cochrane systematic reviews and make review production easier and more efficient.

As our software test engineer, you'd be leading the testing of our software, as well as helping us upgrade and build automated tests for our product. Our goal is to maintain product development velocity while having confidence in the quality of our code.

Who we’re after
We are primarily looking for someone motivated by the mission of Cochrane and of our development team – that is, someone who cares about facilitating improved evidence-based healthcare decisions. We would consider it a bonus if you have specific knowledge of Cochrane, evidence-based health care, systematic reviews, and/or the global health sector.

On a technical level, we are looking for an analytical and efficient problem solver that can challenge our product and the processes around it, with experience in designing and implementing test strategies for web applications in an Agile setting.

We work in English.

What you'd be doing

• Working with a talented, passionate and collaborative agile team;
• Advocating cross-team to ensure quality-minded practices;
• Designing, implementing, and maintaining automatic and manual test solutions.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here. 
• The deadline to receive your application is by 14 February 2022. 
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 Category: Jobs

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Specifications: Permanent contract
Hours: Full-time week (flexible working considered) – 37.5 hours
Salary: £55,500 per annum
Application Closing Date: 14 February (Midnight GMT Time)

Are you passionate about quality software? Do you have a drive to make a difference for health care world-wide?
We are a global, independent organization that strives to inform health-care decisions every day. We gather and summarize the best evidence from research to help doctors, nurses, patients, carers, researchers, funders, and policymakers. We do not accept commercial or conflicted funding, and work to minimize risk of bias, in order to generate authoritative and reliable information.

Our development team is located in Copenhagen and supports the process of creating systematic reviews through a web-based application. We are a group of motivated, mission-driven people who are energized by working together. We care about our users, taking pride in delivering features which both ensure the quality of Cochrane systematic reviews and make review production easier and more efficient.

As our new software developer, you'd contribute to the design and development of the web-based software used by thousands of Cochrane authors to produce systematic reviews, which includes tools and integrations for writing, statistical analysis, data management, study curation, data extraction, and more. Due to the fast-paced nature of our release cycle, the team interact frequently with users and other stakeholders.

Who we’re after
We are primarily looking for someone motivated by the mission of Cochrane and of our development team – that is, someone who cares about facilitating improved evidence-based healthcare decisions. We would consider it a bonus if you have specific knowledge of Cochrane, evidence-based health care, systematic reviews, and/or the global health sector.

On a technical level, we are looking for an analytical and efficient problem solver that can challenge our product and the processes around it, with experience in designing and building web applications in an Agile setting.

We work in English.

What you'd be doing

• Working with a talented, passionate and collaborative agile team;
• Designing, developing, testing, and maintaining our review production systems;
• Achieving and maintaining a high level of automated test coverage;
• Helping to drive continuous improvement of product, code, and processes.

For further information on the job description and how to apply, please click here. 

• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.
• Deadline for applications: 14 February 2022 (Midnight GMT).
• Interviews to be held on: W/C 28 February 2022 (times and exact dates to be confirmed).

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 Category: Jobs

In this interview, we learn more about a series of reviews on hip fractures published on the Cochrane Library and talk to some of the authors behind this work Prof Xavier Griffin and orthopaedic surgeons Mr William Eardley and Mr Martyn Parker.

Tell us how did these reviews come about?
This work was funded by the National Institute of Health Research Systematic Reviews programme, as a joint application from Oxford University and Cochrane’s Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group. The underlying concept was that there is diverse, congested and complex literature of varying quality around hip fracture and it can be hard to interpret. We wanted to improve on that and provide useful, actionable statements of the evidence for patients, clinicians and researchers.

Studies are being accumulated very quickly in this field compared to other areas of orthopaedics and the reviews that were in the Cochrane Library were out of date and had various limitations. We were aware that NICE would be reviewing and updating its guidance on the management of hip fracture in adults in 2022 so this was a timely piece of work that would link closely with work at NICE. We were in touch with them along the process sharing the questions for which patients and clinicians wanted answers, as well as sharing findings with them.

Were patients involved?
We carried out scoping work with patients and experts in this field to work out what the priority review topics would be - there could have been a hundred, but we worked together to reduce it down to what was most important. We shared this with NICE to help shape their update. This involvement of patients and their views was not happening when we all started out in this field, it is now so much more patient influenced, which is a good thing for those giving and those receiving treatment and care.

We approached these reviews as informative pieces of work giving direction to guidelines, clinical practice and research rather than being static sources of information - they feed into knowledge and then clinical practice.

Who will find these studies most useful?
Clinicians, surgeons, and trainee surgeons will find these reviews most useful as they provide the gold standard answers to questions they want answered.

The studies are also an important part of the puzzle in terms of informing what might be commissioned for research later.

We hope patients will see an improvement in their care as a result of these reviews as they give an evidence-based anchors for clinician’s recommendations.  NICE will also have these studies available to them when they update their guidance on this topic.

In the UK we have something called the National Hip Fracture Database, it audits treatment in this area, how many hip replacements take place in the UK for example. With these reviews they can report practice against best evidence which is good for patients, good for commissioners and good for people planning service delivery in their hospitals.

Who was involved?
Our success in securing this grant and the reviews done to date builds on very strong networks,
we've got a pretty research active and research savvy community partly through the work of Orthopaedic Trauma Society and the Fragility Fracture Network – we drew on this network to pull this work together. This research collaboration is what we’d like to see fostered going forwards.

These reviews were synchronised with current large trials and NICE updating their guidelines and as such they are an important piece of work to inform the wider picture and influence practice; not only in terms of influencing what treatment is given but influencing how best to study a topic – this is a shift in culture. These reviews should stand the test of time for the next ten years because they have been performed with methodological rigour and include the latest trial data.

You included very recent large landmark trials, how?
We did not want to publish Cochrane reviews that were out of date quickly. We were able to include a very large landmark new trial (WHITE5) in two of these reviews because we were aware of what each other was doing – we were in touch with each other - and we were able to access trial data prior to publication. We don’t work in a siloed way, and this has great benefit.

What value do these studies have for funders?
This body of work will help funders know where to place their funding to get maximum benefit on that spend – there are certain surgeries we can say should no longer happen and those areas no longer need to be studied.

• Visit the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group here
• View each review here:
  • Internal fixation implants for intracapsular hip fractures in older adults
  • Arthroplasties for hip fracture in adults
  • Cephalomedullary nails versus extramedullary implants for extracapsular hip fractures in older adults
  • Surgical interventions for treating intracapsular hip fractures in older adults: a network meta-analysis
  • Surgical interventions for treating extracapsular hip fractures in older adults: a network meta-analysis
    
    

Monday, February 14, 2022

Location: Flexible location (remote working) in the UK.
Specifications: Permanent contract.
Hours: Full-time week (flexible working considered) – 37.5 hours.
Salary: £42,000 per annum.
Application Closing Date: 07 April (Midnight GMT Time)

This role is an exciting opportunity to use your financial knowledge and problem-solving skills to make a difference in the field of health care research.  

The Financial Accountant is responsible for supporting the day-to-day management and the smooth running of the financial accounting operations of Cochrane, which includes leading on financial accounting processes, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting the international payroll.  The jobholder will have an important role to create and shape the financial procedures, improve processes, outputs, and analysis for stakeholders.

You will have a minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in a similar finance role with a recognised qualification. Part-qualified candidates with particularly strong experience will be considered and supported.

Cochrane is a global, independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings to produce the best available evidence on what can work, what might harm and where more research is needed. Our work is recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

• For further information on the job description and how to apply, please click here 
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. Note that we will assess applications as they are received, and therefore may fill the post before the deadline.
• Deadline for applications: 07 April 2022 (Midnight GMT).

Friday, March 25, 2022 Category: Jobs

Low‐carbohydrate versus balanced‐carbohydrate diets for reducing weight and cardiovascular risk

Key messages

• There is probably little to no difference in the weight lost by people following low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets (also known as 'low-carb diets') compared to the weight lost by people following balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets, for up to two years.
• Similarly, there is probably little to no difference between the diets for changes in heart disease risks, like diastolic blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c, a measure of blood sugar levels over 2-3 months) and LDL cholesterol (‘unhealthy’ cholesterol) up to two years.
• This was the case in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

What are low-carbohydrate and balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets?
People spend lots of money on trying to lose weight using diets, products, foods and books, and continue to debate about which diets are effective and safe. So, examining the scientific evidence behind claims made is important. Low-carbohydrate diets are a broad category of weight-reducing diets that manipulate and restrict carbohydrates, protein and fat in diets. There are no consistent, widely-accepted definitions of these diets and different descriptions are used (e.g. 'low-carbohydrate, high-protein’, 'low-carbohydrate, high-fat', or ‘very low-carbohydrate’).

Low-carbohydrate diets are implemented in different ways, but they restrict grains, cereals and legumes, and other carbohydrate-containing foods; such as dairy, most fruit and certain vegetables. These foods are then typically replaced with foods higher in fat and protein; such as meats, eggs, cheese, butter, cream, oils. Some low-carbohydrate diets recommend eating as desired, while others recommend restricting the amount of energy eaten.

Balanced-carbohydrate diets contain more moderate amounts of carbohydrates, protein and fats, in line with current healthy eating advice from health authorities. When used for weight reduction, balanced diets recommend restricting the amount of energy eaten by guiding people to reduce their portion sizes and choose healthier foods (e.g. lean instead of fatty meat).

Low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets are widely promoted, marketed and commercialised as being more effective for weight loss, and healthier, than 'balanced'-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets.

Professor Celeste Naude explains, "The weight lost by people on low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets was similar to the weight lost by those on balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets, for up to two years. Changes in heart disease risk factors were also similar in people following these diets for between one and two years. This was the case in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

"The longest of the trials lasted for two years, so we do not know if there are differences between the effects and safety of these diets beyond two years, which would be especially important for heart disease risk factors.

Most of the people in the trials did not have heart disease or related risks at the start of the studies, so we do not know if there are differences between the effects and safety of these diets in people with heart disease or risk factors, such as conditions that cause abnormal levels of fats in the blood.

Our review did not compare type or quality of carbohydrates, fats or proteins between the diets, or costs between the diets.”

What did the review authors want to find out?
They wanted to find out if low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets were better for weight loss and heart disease risk factors than balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets in adults who were overweight or living with obesity.

They wanted to find this out for people with and without type 2 diabetes.

What did they do?
They searched six electronic databases and trial registries for all trials* that compared low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets with balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets in adults who were overweight or living with obesity. The trials had to last for at least three months. The authors compared and summarised the results of the trials and rated the confidence in the combined evidence, based on factors such as study methods and sizes.

*A trial is a type of study in which participants are assigned randomly to two or more treatment groups. This is the best way to ensure similar groups of participants.

What did they find?
The authors found 61 trials involving 6925 people who were overweight or living with obesity. The biggest trial was in 419 people and the smallest was in 20 people. All except one of the trials were conducted in high-income countries worldwide, and nearly half were undertaken in the US (n=26).

Most trials were undertaken in people who did not have heart disease or risk factors (n = 36). Most people (n = 5118) did not have type 2 diabetes.

The average starting weight of people across the trials was 95 kg. Most studies lasted for six months or less (n = 37); and the longest studies (n = 6) lasted for two years.

Main results
Low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets probably result in little to no difference in weight loss over the short term (trials lasting 3 to 8.5 months) and long term (trials lasting one to two years) compared to balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets, in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

In the short term, the average difference in weight loss was about 1 kg and in the long term, the average difference was less than 1 kg.

People lost weight on both diets in some trials. The amount of weight lost on average varied greatly with both diets across the trials from less than 1 kg in some trials and up to about 12 kg in others in the short term and long term.

Similarly, low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets probably result in little to no difference in diastolic blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and LDL cholesterol (‘unhealthy’ cholesterol) for up to two years.

The authors could not draw any conclusions about side effects reported by participants because very few trials reported these.

What are the limitations of the evidence?
The authors are moderately confident in the evidence. Confidence was lowered mainly because of concerns about how some the trials were conducted, which included that many trials did not report all their results. Further research may change these results.

How up to date is this evidence?
The evidence is up-to-date to June 2021.

What gaps did the authors identify?
They do not know if there are differences between the effects and safety of these diets beyond two years.

Since most of the people in the trials did not have heart disease or heart disease risks when they were recruited, the authors do not know if there are differences between the effects and safety of these diets in people with heart disease or risk factors, such as conditions that cause abnormal levels of fats in the blood.

What important related questions were not addressed in this review?
The author team did not compare type or quality of carbohydrates, fats or proteins between the diets. They also did not examine differences in costs between the diets.

• Read the full review here
• Visit the Cochrane Public Health Group website
• Visit the Cochrane Heart Group website 

Friday, January 28, 2022