The Evidence Synthesis Units are planned as multi-topic research groups responsible for producing high-quality and timely evidence syntheses in response to diverse stakeholder needs. The Units will have methodological expertise, local knowledge and access to a global network of Cochrane experts, enabling them to produce high-quality Cochrane evidence that supports health systems, policy, and practice globally.

The aim is that each Unit will have the right mix of skills to anticipate stakeholder needs and ensure they get the evidence they need, when they need it. Each Unit will be led by an experienced Cochrane evidence synthesis expert, who will have an appropriately skilled core team and will be expected to deliver high-quality manuscripts to the Central Editorial Service.  The end goal is for Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Units to be recognised as trusted teams of evidence synthesis experts that work proactively and efficiently to deliver commissioned work, in line with Cochrane’s reputation for quality and independence. They will be geographically dispersed and deliver Cochrane evidence across a wide range of topics. Although they will focus on generating high-quality evidence syntheses, they may also help to champion methods and adopt innovations from Cochrane’s Methods Groups.

Collaboration between the Evidence Synthesis Units and other Cochrane groups, especially the new Thematic Groups, is at the heart of Cochrane’s future. We envisage a flexible, collaborative relationship between these two groups, enabling Cochrane to prioritize, design, conduct, and share evidence syntheses that meet the needs of funders and users.

A call for applications to establish Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Units closed on 15 December 2023. We received a healthy number of proposals, spread across 10 different countries. The shortlisting process underway and the first units are expected to be announced by April 2024.

Funding

Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Units will not be funded centrally. Unit leaders will be responsible for identifying suitable funding mechanisms for their activities; however, the Cochrane Central Executive Team will provide fundraising support while the Units are being established.