The Cochrane Co-Production Methods Group was launched at the September 2023 Cochrane Colloquium, to promote and develop methods for co-production in evidence syntheses on health and care topics. On this page, we outline the scope of our work and provide a brief introduction to our members .
Scope of our work
Our group understands co-production in evidence synthesis to mean people (such as, though not restricted to, patients, carers, health professionals, policy-makers, researchers) working together in ‘a partnership’ to produce and/or disseminate evidence syntheses (Hoddinott et al., 2018).
By evidence syntheses, we mean any research method that systematically brings together evidence to answer a healthcare question, including Cochrane systematic reviews and other forms of quantitative and qualitative reviews of evidence.
We are aware that internationally there is currently no single, accepted definition of the term co-production. To help clarify the field, we are leading a project that aims to generate a shared definition across the evidence-synthesis community. You can find out more about this project here.
More generally, our work has three main aims:
1. To spearhead methods research and development in the field.
We:
- bring together a community of people with expertise and/or interest in furthering the development of methods of co-production of evidence syntheses;
- promote and encourage the use, reporting and evaluation of methods of co-production of evidence syntheses;
- identify and promote priorities for research relating to methods of co-production, and encourage and support people to lead and collaborate on projects to address these priorities; and
- support and encourage collaborative research aimed at establishing an evidence base relating to the effectiveness and/or impact of different approaches to patient and public involvement in evidence syntheses.
2. To define best practice and ensure that Cochrane guidance for accepted methods is up to date.
We support the development of best practice for co-production of Cochrane reviews by:
- Collaborating on projects which aim to develop and define best practice in this field (e.g. MuSE, JBI knowledge user group) and apply the findings to Cochrane reviews;
- Collating and sharing resources relating to methods of co-production of systematic reviews, and good practice in patient and public involvement in research;
- Collating and sharing examples of good practice for co-production in Cochrane reviews; and
- Developing specific guidance for the conduct and reporting of co-production within Cochrane reviews
3. To serve as a discussion forum for the evidence synthesis community on specific methods, supporting and maintaining the membership of the Methods Group to facilitate this and other activities.
This core function of our group is delivered through regular meetings, a regular newsletter, and additional events (e.g. conference workshops).
Our members
- Co-convenors
 |  |  |
| Maureen Smith is the Chair of Cochrane's Consumer Executive. | Alex Todhunter-Brown is a Professor of Evidence Synthesis at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, UK, who has a long history of involvement in Cochrane activities. | April English, Cochrane's Consumer Engagement Manager. |
- Current members
 | Ursula Griebler is a senior researcher at the Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation at the University for Continuing Education Krems, and her research focuses on evidence syntheses in the field of public health, with a particular emphasis on evaluating health promotion interventions. | |
 | Prof Zoe Jordan is Executive Director of JBI (a leading global organisation promoting and supporting evidence based healthcare) and an advocate for inclusive, equitable collaboration and engagement across all aspects of the evidence ecosystem. | |
 | Dominic Ledinger is a researcher and PhD candidate at Cochrane Austria, specialising in evidence synthesis and its methodology with a focus on knowledge user involvement. | |
 | Biljana Macura is a Senior Research Fellow and Team Lead for the Sanitation and Health Team within the Resources, Rights and Development Division at SEI Headquarters in Stockholm. | |
 | Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit is Co-Director of Cochrane Austria and Ass.-Prof. in Evidence Synthesis Methods Research at the Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation at the University for Continuing Education Krems in Austria. | |
 | Nicole Pitcher is a public health researcher who currently leads the Communications working group for this Cochrane Group. | |
 | Danielle Pollock is lived experience stillbirth researcher, and evidence synthesis methodologist passionate about ensuring patient partners are at the centre of research. | |
 | Dr Anneliese Synnot is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Living Evidence Collaboration, Monash University Australia. She researches consumer engagement in living evidence, including living systematic reviews and living guidelines. | |
 | Dr. Tricco holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Synthesis for Knowledge Users. She is currently the Nominated Principal Applicant for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Evidence Alliance, which uses a co-creation model to engage knowledge users. |
- Former members
Richard Morley, co-founder of this group and former Cochrane Consumer Engagement Officer.