Posted by Froeks Kamminga (Methods Liaison Officer) on 3 December 2020

Each year, all 17 Cochrane Methods Groups prepare an Annual Report to record their main developments and achievements. This year, we are putting the Methods Groups and their contributions in the spotlight. 

Today, it's IPD Meta-analysis.  Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis is a specific type of systematic review. Rather than extracting summary (aggregate) data from study publications or from investigators, the original research data are sought directly from the researchers responsible for each study. These data can then be re-analysed centrally and combined, if appropriate, in meta-analyses. IPD meta-analyses are typically non-Cochrane reviews, carried out and published by collaborative groups. These groups comprise the project team managing the IPD meta-analysis, members of the advisory group (if there is one) and the researchers who contribute their study data for re-analysis.

This year, the Group's highlight is: 

To find out more, click on the below, which will take you to the Group's summary report:

Interested in learning more about the IPD Meta-analysis Methods Group, or any of the other Methods Groups? Join Cochrane!

(even if you're already a member of a Methods Group, please sign up to the Methods Network to update your interests)

A full overview of the outputs in methods research and development, best practice and guidance, methods implementation, as well as publications and other achievements from each of our 17 Methods Groups can be found via the links in the box below.  

Lastly, you can read the full narrative report for a summary of the key methodological developments in Cochrane over the past year.