Transforming Health Evidence: a look at Cochrane’s Future of Evidence Synthesis programme with Cochrane's Editor in Chief, Karla Soares-Weiser
Our Future of Evidence Synthesis programme is now well underway, designed to reinforce and maintain Cochrane’s standing as a leader in health evidence synthesis and ensure we are adapting to meet evolving global challenges. Significant changes have already been made and more are on the horizon, so we caught up with Cochrane’s Editor in Chief, Karla Soares-Weiser, to get the latest insights.
How is the Future of Evidence Synthesis Programme progressing?
“The Future of Evidence Synthesis Programme has made significant progress, with Cochrane implementing changes to enhance the author experience and streamline review processes, while maintaining high standards. In 2023, there was a surge in proposals and submissions, with over 500 new proposals and 600 review submissions received by the Central Editorial Service. The Cochrane Library exceeded expectations with 410 new reviews and 129 protocols published. However, managing this increased volume of submissions poses challenges, which the organisation is actively addressing by expanding the Central Editorial Service. Progress has been made in reducing delays in protocol decision-making from up to six months to around six weeks.
The programme has also worked with Thematic Groups to support their establishment and plans to launch a second call for applications. Additionally, a call for applications to establish Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Units received strong interest from 10 different countries, with the shortlisting process underway and the first units expected to be announced soon.
Furthermore, in 2023, Cochrane published many high-impact reviews covering diverse topics relevant to low, middle, and high-income countries. These reviews, supported by the central team and fast-tracked for publication, showcased innovative evidence production and synthesis methods. For instance, evidence revealed that insulin can be stored outside of fridges, benefiting areas with unreliable power supplies. Reviews also questioned common practices like prescribing anti-depressants for chronic pain and summarised evidence on simple topical repellents in malaria prevention. These efforts have continued this year, with the publication of an updated Cochrane Review on decision aids for treatment or screening decisions, along with two reviews on hospital-at-home interventions. This progress reflects collaborative work and demonstrates Cochrane's commitment to delivering high-quality evidence globally.”
Cochrane has also made some more practical changes to processes and platforms to support our authors. Can you explain a little about that?
“We have introduced a new review format to streamline the review process. This new format simplifies the process for Authors and speeds up the development of reviews, but also has the added benefit of helping to amplify the impact of Cochrane reviews once published.
We have also now fully transitioned to an advanced platform, RevMan Web. It streamlines the author journey while delivering easily digestible, user-friendly information to those around the world using Cochrane evidence.
We’ve made it simpler for authors and users alike by introducing fresh methods and a sharper review format, along with greatly improved data management. These upgrades have helped to improve collaboration, cut down on research waste, and ensure data quality. I’m really pleased that hundreds of reviews have already benefitted from being produced in the new format. “
“I’m really pleased that hundreds of reviews have already benefitted from being produced in the new format”
What impact do you foresee this programme having on the wider scientific community and, more broadly, on global health?
“The Future of Evidence Synthesis programme has a transformative impact on Cochrane’s ability to deliver reviews that respond to the needs of our users worldwide. By implementing structural changes, Cochrane aims to become more agile and adaptable in a competitive environment, enabling the organisation to effectively execute its new scientific strategy.
This strategy emphasises addressing critical health needs, reducing health equity gaps, and achieving global impact through targeted priorities, while continuing to support a diverse programme of research. Cochrane remains steadfast in its commitment to diverse research programs, equity, innovation, partnership, and transparency.
Through consultation with the Cochrane community and external partners, strategic priorities for the next five years have been outlined, focusing on pragmatic approaches to achieve tangible outcomes, particularly within the initial two-year period. The objective is to secure additional funding and foster the development of high-quality evidence-based solutions to address pressing health challenges. By addressing these challenges head-on, Cochrane can contribute to scientific advancement and improvements in global health outcomes.”
How are these changes promoting inclusivity?
“These changes underscore our commitment to inclusivity, a core value at Cochrane. We recognise the pressing health challenges faced by individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and are actively working to ensure that our evidence synthesis efforts address the needs of everyone, everywhere.
By collaborating closely with organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), as well as our own Geographic Groups, we're tailoring our reviews to tackle issues relevant to LMICs. Our initiative to establish Evidence Synthesis Units in both high- and low-middle-income countries further reinforces our commitment to geographic inclusivity, ensuring that diverse perspectives are represented in the evidence synthesis process. Moreover, practical improvements to our processes and review formats are breaking down barriers for authors in LMICs, enabling more experts to contribute their invaluable local knowledge. Additionally, our establishment of a Methods group focused on the co-production of reviews with health consumers and engagement with early-career researchers exemplify our dedication to inclusive research practices. These efforts collectively aim to make Cochrane a more inclusive organisation, where everyone's expertise is valued, and where evidence synthesis truly reflects the diversity of global health contexts.”
This is a huge programme of change that Cochrane has undertaken. How important has the support of the Cochrane community been in dealing with the various challenges?
“The support of the Cochrane community has been invaluable in navigating the complexities of this ambitious programme of change. We recognise that such large-scale transformations can be daunting, and we are deeply grateful for the patience and collaboration demonstrated by our community throughout this journey. Despite the magnitude of the changes, our unwavering commitment to independence and trustworthiness remains paramount.
Collaboration and flexibility from the Cochrane community have been essential to the programme's success thus far and will continue to be vital for future progress. We have been heartened by the enthusiastic response and unwavering support from content contributors and experts across our community, who serve as the foundation of our operations. Their expertise and dedication are indispensable to our ongoing success.
It's important to acknowledge that challenges still lie ahead, and not all hurdles have been overcome. However, we are fully committed to addressing these challenges and ensuring the success of the programme. With the continued support and collaboration of the Cochrane community, we are confident in our ability to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.”
Finally, how important is Evidence Synthesis in today’s world?
“Evidence synthesis plays a crucial role in today's world, providing the foundation for informed decision-making in health and care. It also helps identify gaps in knowledge and guides the direction of primary research efforts to address these gaps effectively and efficiently. While Cochrane has traditionally focused on summarising evidence from clinical trials, there's a growing recognition of the need to diversify the types of evidence synthesised to better support decision-making, and importantly, to do so in a timely manner.
High-quality evidence syntheses serve to cut through the noise and deliver balanced answers to pressing research questions. By directing research funding to where it's most needed and uncovering key gaps in current knowledge, evidence synthesis contributes significantly to advancing health and care. In today's data-driven world, evidence synthesis remains a vital tool for ensuring informed decision-making and better health outcomes.
It is imperative that we continue to collaborate and innovate to ensure that organisations like Cochrane can sustainably produce high-quality evidence syntheses for years to come, thus continuing to contribute positively to global health.”