The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) is working on a publication to review the opportunities digital health solutions present in relation to climate change. To speed up the process, the Organization has teamed up with Cochrane Crowd for a task to classify related studies. Open to all, this citizen science initiative invites volunteers to review and identify key studies, aiding WHO/Europe to research the impact of digital solutions on climate-related health issues.

“Conducting horizon-scanning to identify promising digital health solutions that can help shape public health is among key priorities for us at WHO/Europe. In addition to benefiting healthcare in a digital era, this initiative promotes preparedness amid the climate crisis,” said Dr. David Novillo Ortiz, Regional Adviser for Data and Digital Health at WHO/Europe.

New task: digital health technology and climate change
Cochrane Crowd has launched a call to participate in a special task requested by WHO/Europe. This task aims to identify key digital health technologies used to manage or mitigate climate-change-related health problems and to reduce the health sector’s carbon footprint. With over 18,000 search results to assess, we need your help!

Digital health technologies leverage information and communication technology to enhance human health, healthcare services, and wellness. Examples include mobile apps, virtual medical appointments, fitness trackers, and virtual reality training for medical procedures. A specialized training module will provide more examples.

A global community of volunteers
Cochrane Crowd is a global community of volunteers dedicated to classifying research necessary for informed decision-making in healthcare. Volunteers review descriptions of research studies to identify and classify healthcare research studies. These efforts help Cochrane reviewers and other healthcare researchers worldwide find high-quality evidence about treatments and healthcare interventions.

Anna Noel-Storr, manager of the Cochrane Crowd platform, says: “Cochrane has been in official relations with WHO since 2011. This task is particularly exciting for us on the Cochrane Crowd team as it’s the first crowd task we’ve done in partnership with the WHO. I hope it’s the first of many, as I know our brilliant Crowd community will relish the opportunity to directly contribute to global health research and make a meaningful impact on climate change."

Contributing to Cochrane Crowd is free and doesn't require any prior experience in healthcare research. By joining, volunteers can build skills in evidence assessment, stay updated on the latest research, and contribute to the global healthcare community. Online training is provided, and all contributions are welcome, from a few minutes a day to more focused periods.

Participation in Cochrane Crowd offers numerous benefits, including the opportunity to earn named acknowledgement in the WHO review and a chance to gain Cochrane membership. Volunteers can also enhance their skills through training and review past decisions to improve accuracy.

"The WHO-Cochrane Crowd collaboration is a great opportunity to contribute to climate action. By identifying the most effective digital health solutions, we can advance research and empower people to protect their health,” said Dr. Israel Junior Borges do Nascimento, WHO consultant and lead author.

The task will be live throughout July 2024. To take part, head to Cochrane Crowd and log in or sign up. Once logged in, click on the ‘Tasks’ panel. You should then see the task “Digital health technology and climate change”.

• Visit the Cochrane Crowd 

A new Cochrane Library Editorial calls for accelerated global implementation of antenatal magnesium sulphate to benefit preterm babies. 

Giving women at risk of premature birth a simple magnesium sulphate infusion (or ‘drip’) can prevent their babies from developing cerebral palsy, a recent Cochrane review has confirmed. The drug itself costs approximately £5 (~$6.50) per dose in England, and requires hospital admission with experienced staff to administer the drug safely to the mother. A new Cochrane Library Editorial calls for this intervention to be implemented more widely and equitably, as it is still not consistently available worldwide.

 The first Cochrane review showing that magnesium sulphate protects premature babies against cerebral palsy was published in 2009, and the recent update includes newer trials which further confirm this finding. It has been recommended by the World Health Organization since 2015 for women at risk of premature birth before 32 weeks of gestation, but implementation remains a challenge in many areas.

Knowing which interventions are effective is only part of the battle, as implementing them consistently across complex health systems is far from trivial. After seeing the results of the original review, neonatologist Karen Luyt was inspired to ensure this life-changing intervention was offered to all eligible mothers across England. This includes all women going into labour before 30 weeks of gestation, and some women between 30 and 33 weeks depending on clinical factors.

“Preterm birth is the leading cause of brain injury and cerebral palsy with lifelong impact on children and families,” says Karen Luyt, Professor in Neonatal Medicine at the University of Bristol. “When the Cochrane meta-analysis was published in 2009, I realised that magnesium sulphate, given to mothers in preterm labour, was a potential game changer. The first effective neuroprotective treatment for preterm babies, preventing cerebral palsy by around 30%. We were early adopters at St Michael’s Hospital (University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Trust).

“I discovered in 2014 that this potentially life altering treatment was not widely used in England, despite high level evidence that it is effective at protecting preterm babies from brain injury and subsequent cerebral palsy. I was awarded Evidence to Practice Challenge support funding from our West of England Health Innovation Network and the PReCePT project was born. Our goal was to give every eligible mother in preterm labour the choice to receive Magnesium Sulphate and for every preterm baby the chance to develop to their full potential.

“The PReCePT collaboration managed to close the evidence-to-practice gap in England, achieve health equity for babies living in the most socio-economically deprived regions and build the evidence base for successful future implementation of perinatal interventions.”

Following correspondence with the Cochrane authors, Karen began implementing the findings in her own hospital through a programme called PReCePT (prevention of cerebral palsy in pre-term labour). Supported by Health Innovation West of England and co-designed by parents and maternity ward staff, the programme provides practical tools and training to ensure eligible mothers are offered magnesium sulphate.

A family's story: Elly Salisbury and Cormac

One of the first women to receive magnesium sulphate through the programme was Elly Salisbury. She was offered the drug when pregnant with her son Cormac, who is now a healthy 11-year old boy.

“It fills me with pride and joy that all mothers in my situation across England are offered magnesium sulphate thanks to the PReCePT programme,” says Elly. “Behind every infusion of magnesium sulphate is a little boy or girl, just like Cormac, and a family just like ours. Every family deserves the chance to be given this drug, wherever they are in the world. I hope that health systems around the world take inspiration from PReCePT’s success to make this a reality.”

Following the successful spread of the programme to all five trusts in the West of England, the Health Innovation Network has now rolled it out to all NHS maternity units in England. Between 2018 and 2023, magnesium sulphate was given to 14,270 eligible women across the country, resulting in an estimated 385 fewer cases of cerebral palsy.

National rollout and impact

The widespread use of this life-changing treatment was made possible by the original Cochrane review led by Professors Lex Doyle and Caroline Crowther.

“The first suggestions that magnesium sulphate might protect babies’ brains from cerebral palsy came from observational studies where it was being used for other purposes,” says Lex Doyle, Honorary Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne. “Rates of cerebral palsy appeared to be lower in premature babies whose mothers had received the drug, but the evidence was inconclusive. Randomised clinical trials followed, and when we published our 2009 review which combined the results of five trials, the evidence showed a clear benefit in reducing rates of cerebral palsy in early childhood.

“It’s heartening to see the increased uptake of this intervention around the world, which is now being given to the majority of eligible mothers in many countries. However, due to the unpredictability of human childbirth, it’s impossible to reliably reach 100%. Some women in preterm labour deliver too quickly, with no opportunity for intervention, while others experience ‘false alarms’ and go on to give birth much later, even at term.”

The future of magnesium sulphate research

Despite clear evidence that magnesium sulphate is both cost-effective and life-changing, not all mothers are receiving it. The Vermont Oxford Network collects data from over 1,400 participating neonatal units worldwide, primarily in the USA. Their data suggests that around two thirds of eligible women receive magnesium sulphate, and this figure is likely to be lower in low-resource settings that are underrepresented in the data.

Karen worked alongside clinicians around the world to develop materials to help people in lower-resource settings to implement magnesium sulphate alongside other interventions to help premature babies. In her new editorial in the Cochrane Library, she urges increased global uptake and implementation research in lower-resource settings.

“The trials combined in our review are all from high-income countries, where hospitals are comparatively well set-up to administer magnesium sulphate infusions and fulfil maternal and fetal monitoring requirements,” says Dr Emily Shepherd of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, lead author of the updated Cochrane review. “In low resource settings, this may not always be possible. It would be helpful for future studies to establish the minimum effective dose, and alternative or simpler regimens, particularly intramuscular administration, to aid widespread implementation including across low and middle-income countries.

“We need further research to explore other questions to help optimize implementation. For example, is it better to deliver the drug as soon as women present to hospital in preterm labour, or as close to the birth as possible? Are the benefits the same regardless of how early the babies are born? We are currently undertaking a new research project to explore some of these questions based on existing data, which we hope will help to standardize international recommendations and aid translation. Our hope is that women whose children will likely not benefit are not exposed unnecessarily, and that all women whose children are likely to benefit are offered treatment across the globe.”

• Read the Cochrane Library editorial
• Read the Cochrane review and plain language summary 

Shepherd ES, Goldsmith S, Doyle LW, Middleton P, Marret S, Rouse DJ, Pryde P, Wolf HT, Crowther CA. Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD004661. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004661.pub4. 

Specifications: Permanent – Full time
Salary: £63,000 per annum
Location: Remote working (UK office located in Central London)
Closing date:  4 July 2024

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, Chief Executive Office and Finance and Corporate Services.

This role is to support and collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team and CEO, on people management issues across the Central Executive Team (CET) worker life cycle.  The job holder will develop and lead in the delivery of the global HR strategy aligned with Cochrane’s strategic ambitions.  This will be achieved by setting the strategic direction for the HR function and leading the HR team in providing and effective and efficient HR function.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values:

Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally.

Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format.

Integrity: Independent and transparent.

Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.

You can expect:

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.
• A flexible work environment
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and click “how to apply”.
• The deadline to receive your application is 4 July, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Cochrane, JBI, Guidelines International Network (GIN), and The Campbell Collaboration are set to host the second Global Evidence Summit (GES) in the historic city of Prague from 10 to 13 September 2024. This summit will bring together professionals from various sectors, including health, education, social justice, environment, and climate change, to discuss and inform policy and practice through evidence. Registration is still open.

With approximately 70 long oral presentations, 456 short oral presentations, 60 workshops, 25 special sessions, and 1000+ posters accepted this year, they will be a cornerstone of the GES programme, facilitating deep exploration of topics and encouraging future collaborations. Emphasising accessible presentations and posters aims to enhance knowledge transfer, particularly for non-native English speakers and individuals facing challenges related to disabilities or neurodivergence.

This year, GES introduces innovative poster and PowerPoint presentation designs based on the work of a diverse team from IPG Health (Emily Messina, James Wells, Noofa Hannan, and Anja Petersen), Zen Faulkes, author of Better Posters, and Mike Morrison, the psychologist behind the viral #BetterPoster movement. These templates incorporate the latest research in instructional design, accessibility, and eye tracking. Tested at the Cochrane Colloquium 2023, the poster templates received positive feedback for improving engagement and communication. Attendees found the posters with large figures and minimal text to be more engaging, memorable, and easier to understand.

Mike Morrison commented on the initiative, saying, "These poster and presentation templates are a significant step towards making scientific communication more insightful for attendees, more impactful for presenters, and more accessible to everyone. We know from several studies — including 'real world' testing at last year's Cochrane colloquium — that these templates make a difference, and I am excited to see their reach expand further at the GES."

Cochrane CEO Catherine Spencer added, "We are thrilled to adopt these templates at the Global Evidence Summit. This initiative underscores Cochrane's commitment to enhancing the dissemination of evidence and fostering impactful discussions. We believe these evidenced-based templates will significantly improve the experience for all participants." Cochrane members are reminded that they can request Cochrane group logos from support@cochrane.org, colour codes for groups are on page 81 of the brand guidelines, and there is picture selection guidance available.

Everyone is encouraged to download and adapt the free poster and presentation templates for their own use, whether presenting at the GES or any other academic event.

• Download the poster template
• Learn more about posters at GES
• Download the presentation template
• Learn more about presentations at GES

A new Cochrane review highlights the significant association between undernutrition and tuberculosis (TB) disease, shedding light on its prognostic value in predicting TB incidence among adults, adolescents, and children.

The review, which analyzed data from 51 cohort studies involving over 27 million participants across diverse settings, reveals that undernutrition probably doubles the risk of TB disease. This association, particularly evident within 10 years from the onset of undernutrition, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address undernutrition as part of broader TB prevention strategies.

Undernutrition, characterized by factors such as low body mass index (BMI) emerges as a key risk factor for TB infection and progression. Malnutrition compromises the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight off infections, including TB. Individuals who are malnourished have weakened immune responses, making them more susceptible to the TB bacterium and less capable of containing latent infections. In 2022 alone, undernutrition contributed to an estimated 2.2 million TB cases worldwide, as documented in the World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Report.

Lead author of the review and lead of the Cochrane evidence synthesis group at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Juan Franco, says, “By quantifying this risk, we can more accurately estimate the burden of TB disease attributable to undernutrition. This information informs the planning of policies based on the burden of risk factors across different regions of the world.”

The impact of quantifying the relationship between undernutrition and TB provides evidence-based guidance for policymakers to allocate resources effectively, design targeted interventions, and implement comprehensive TB prevention strategies. For doctors and patients, it highlights the importance of nutritional assessments and interventions in TB care and prevention.

The findings from the review suggest that public health policies in countries with high TB burdens must prioritize nutritional support as a core component of TB control programs.

“By addressing undernutrition, these policies can reduce TB incidence, improve treatment outcomes, and contribute to overall health improvements in these populations,” Franco notes.

Despite the clear link between undernutrition and TB disease risk, challenges persist in standardizing diagnostic methods and accounting for confounding factors. The review emphasizes the importance of ongoing research, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to obtain accurate estimates of undernutrition's impact on TB across different populations and settings.

Juan Franco emphasizes the vital role of international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WHO TB Programme, in implementing the review’s findings. "Evidence-based policies addressing food insecurity and malnutrition are urgently needed," he explains. 

"Undernutrition manifests differently worldwide, influenced by various social determinants of health. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but addressing societal inequalities is always a good starting point. Treating undernutrition, along with reducing other TB risk factors, is essential not only to lower the TB burden but also to achieve overall well-being." 

By focusing on the dual burden of undernutrition and TB, this Cochrane review underscores the importance of integrating nutritional support into TB control programs to achieve better health outcomes globally.

Specifications: Full Time (Permanent role)
Salary: £90,000 per annum
Location: Remote working (international travel and attendance at in-person meetings in London will be expected)
Application closing date:  Wednesday 26 June 2024. The recruitment agency will be longlisting applications as soon as they receive them, so please apply early to register your interest.

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development and External Relations, Chief Executive Office, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Director of Development and External Relations is a key leadership position within Cochrane, responsible for shaping and implementing the organization's external engagement strategy and attracting donors.

As Director of Development and External Relations for Cochrane, you will be a global ambassador for the charity and a vital part of the Executive Leadership Team. You will build and develop relationships with key stakeholders across the global health landscape, enabling the generation of income, advocate for evidence-informed decision making and foster meaningful partnerships.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will play a pivotal role in advancing Cochrane's global impact and ensuring the charity’s sustainability. You will be responsible for increasing Cochrane’s income. and reputation and influence among key audiences including funders and policymakers. You will lead a directorate responsible for fundraising, advocacy, partnerships, communications and Cochrane Response, our global health consultancy.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

You can expect:

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.
• A flexible work environment.
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

How to apply

• View the full job description.
  
• Apply through our recruitment partner, Prospectus.
• Please submit your application by 26 June 2024.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement.

Cochrane's strength lies in its collaborative, global community. Cochrane Geographic Groups represent Cochrane in their host countries, advocating for the use of Cochrane evidence in health policy and practice, and supporting Cochrane's members and supporters locally. Here, we spotlight the impactful work of the Cochrane Africa Network, dedicated to increasing the use of best evidence to inform healthcare decision-making across Africa. 

Cochrane Africa was officially launched at the Global Evidence Summit in Cape Town in 2017, building on partnerships across Africa dating back to the 1990s. The network comprises a Co-ordinating Hub in South Africa based at the Health Systems Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council; a Francophone Hub directed from Cochrane Cameroon; a Southern African Hub directed from the Centre for Evidence-based Healthcare at Stellenbosch University, South Africa; an East African Hub directed from Cochrane Kenya; and a West African Hub directed from Cochrane Nigeria. The network's main objectives are to deliver timely, high-quality responses to priority questions relevant to global health and sub-Saharan Africa, build capacity to conduct Cochrane Reviews, advocate for evidence-informed decision-making, and increase access to and usability of Cochrane products. Cochrane Africa’s current projects include the Global Evidence Local Adaptation (GELA) project, Cochrane Africa Authorship Guidelines, priority setting to identify review topics for each region, and translation of Cochrane review plain language summaries.

The GELA project, established in 2022 and funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, aims to enhance evidence-informed guideline recommendations for newborn and young child health. By engaging with stakeholders, GELA has identified local priorities and capacity needs, supporting decision-makers in developing and implementing country-specific guidelines.

"Cochrane Africa's work through the GELA project maximises the impact of evidence for poverty-related diseases by increasing the capacity of decision-makers and researchers to use global research for locally relevant guidelines," says Solange Durão, Cochrane Africa Co-Director. This initiative builds on a large-scale programme of child-health guideline development led by the World Health Organization, with adaptation and implementation led by the WHO Afro regional office, country offices, and national ministries. Via the GELA project Cochrane Africa collaborates with several international partners, including the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Western Norway University of Applied Science, Stellenbosch University, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Cochrane, and the MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation. 

The network's work has significantly impacted healthcare practices, policies, and knowledge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in TB, HIV, and COVID-19. Through capacity-building initiatives, Cochrane Africa has developed a robust field of evidence-based healthcare on the continent, with many current leaders in the region being graduates of these training programmes. Cochrane Africa also has a long-term collaboration as part of the READ-It project which is based at the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group. Up to 2023, READ-It has contributed to: 13 global policies or guidelines; 9 national policies or guidelines; 73 high-impact systematic reviews; 10 method topic areas; and specifically published 29 high-impact reviews or methods papers led by authors from low- and middle-income countries.

Looking ahead, the Cochrane Africa Network is excited about hosting the Cochrane Africa Indaba in 2025, an international evidence-based health care conference. It will be led by the East Africa Hub at Cochrane Kenya. "Our future projects will continue to build on our strong foundation, advancing evidence-informed decision-making and improving healthcare outcomes across Africa. We're especially excited for the anticipated 2025 Cochrane Africa Indaba and our training workshops and fellowship programmes. The network also has a long history of developing capacity in Africa to conduct Cochrane and other systematic reviews and develop the field of evidence-based healthcare on the continent. Some of the current leadership in Africa are ‘graduates’ of these training initiatives - and we are looking forward to helping create the next generation of leaders! " notes Tamara Kredo, Cochrane Africa Co-Director.

Cochrane Africa welcomes support and collaboration to amplify their impact. If you are interested in contributing to their mission as authors of Cochrane systematic reviews, identifying priorities for future reviews, participating in research projects, raising awareness about Cochrane in your scientific community, writing summaries or commentaries on Cochrane Africa Reviews, or helping to secure funding for their activities, please fill out a short form.

• Visit the Cochrane Africa website
• Follow Cochrane Africa on X
• Follow the GELA project on Facebook
• Find a Cochrane group in your country
  
  

Cochrane's strength lies in its collaborative, global community. Cochrane Geographic Groups represent Cochrane in their host country, advocate for the use of high-quality evidence syntheses in health policy and practice, and support Cochrane's members and supporters who live there. Here, we spotlight the impactful work of Cochrane Austria, dedicated to advancing evidence-based healthcare practices in their country.

Cochrane Austria officially opened as a Cochrane branch in 2010, at the University for Continuing Education Krems. They hosted the 2015 Cochrane Colloquium in Vienna and were awarded full centre status in  2017. With nearly 500 members and supporters, Cochrane Austria aims to support evidence-based decision-making in Austria and other German-speaking countries and build capacity through training activities.

Cochrane Austria Advisory Board Meeting in Krems 2023

Cochrane Austria undertakes various projects to improve health-related decisions by providing access to the best available evidence for citizens, health care providers, and policy decision-makers. They operate the fact-checking platform, Medizin Transparent.at, which evaluates the accuracy of health-related information in the media. This free service enables German-speaking citizens, healthcare providers, and decision-makers to critically analyze health-related information they encounter in the media, attracting about 2 million visitors annually. Cochrane Austria also runs a rapid response service for healthcare professionals, funded by the State Health Agency of Lower Austria. This service provides rapid, evidence-based answers to clinical questions, ensuring that physicians and nurses in Austria can make well-informed decisions.

"There is a lot of misinformation in the media and even healthcare professionals can struggle to find trustworthy evidence. Cochrane Austria's knowledge translation efforts are making a significant impact on evidence-based decision making for citizens, patients, and healthcare providers in Austria," says Dr. Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit, Cochrane Austria Co-Director.

Alexandru and Larisa from Romania, Petter from Sweden, Piotr from Poland, and Raphaela from Sweden.

Training and upskilling the evidence synthesis skills in Austria is another major focus for Cochrane Austria. They provide regular training in methods of evidence-based medicine, such as critical appraisal of studies, interpreting statistics, doing systematic literature searches, and applying the GRADE approach. In 2024, Cochrane Austria launched a PhD program in "Applied Evidence Synthesis in Health Research" at the University for Continuing Education Krems. The program integrates the Cochrane International Mobility programme, allowing PhD students to benefit from the expertise of other Cochrane Centres.

"Cochrane Austria is equipping the next generation of researchers with a profound understanding of evidence-based medicine and the intricate methodologies involved in evidence synthesis. We are excited to play a pivotal role in shaping this promising future," notes Dr. Gerald Gartlehner, Cochrane Austria Co-Director. 

Cochrane Austria is co-convenor of the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group and Cochrane Public Health Europe, collaborates with several international partners, including the American College of Physicians, and the World Health Organization, and also support Cochrane Romania as an Affiliate Centre. These collaborations enhance the impact of their work and ensure the dissemination and uptake of Cochrane evidence. In May 2024, Cochrane Austria organized a meeting of all European Cochrane geographic groups in Vienna to foster and strengthen collaborations within Europe. 

Members of 18 Countries joined the European Cochrane Meeting in May 2024 in Vienna

Through projects like the European Health and Digital Executive Agency collaboration, Cochrane Austria supports EU Member States in decision-making on national vaccination programs. Additionally, as a WHO Collaborating Centre, Cochrane Austria members contributed to a systematic review that formed the basis for a global WHO guideline on preventing bloodstream infections from catheter use.

"Our collaboration with the WHO highlights our dedication to enhancing healthcare decision-making not only in Austria but also on a global scale. We are eager to contribute our expertise to these important projects," says Dr. Barara Nußbaumer-Streit.

Andreea Dobrescu, Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit, Gerald Gartlehner at the Guideline Development Meeting at WHO in Geneva in 2023

Cochrane Austria is excited about involving new PhD students in the Cochrane network, hosting Cochrane International Mobility programme participants, and continuing their knowledge translation and capacity-building activities. For those interested in contributing to Cochrane Austria's mission, please contact Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit at barbara.nussbaumer-streit@donau-uni.ac.at. There are numerous opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the field of evidence-based healthcare!

• Visit the Cochrane Austria website
• Follow Cochrane Austria on social media: 
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
• Search and view Cochrane evidence in German
• Find a Cochrane Geographic Group in your country

Title: Team PA (CEO office)
Specifications: Permanent – Full time
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Location: Remote working (UK office located in Central London)
Closing date: 14 June 2024

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, Chief Executive Office and Finance and Corporate Services.

This varied role will work closely with the Executive Support Manager to provide effective and efficient administrative support to the CEO’s Office, including PA support to the CEO. The CEO’s Office encompasses Strategy, Governance, Geographic Groups, Communications and Cochrane’s Project Team. The Team PA role will provide support, to a greater or lesser extent, to all these areas. It will also provide ad hoc support to special projects, where required. This is a new role and will require a flexible approach. This role could be based anywhere in the world but would be required to work European hours.

Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

Our organization is built on four core values:
Collaboration: Underpins everything we do, locally and globally.
Relevant: The right evidence at the right time in the right format.
Integrity: Independent and transparent.
Quality: Reviewing and improving what we do, maintaining rigour and trust.

You can expect:

• An opportunity to truly impact health globally.
• A flexible work environment.
• A comprehensive onboarding experiences.
• An environment where people feel welcome, heard, and included, regardless of their differences.

Cochrane welcomes applications from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, locations, and backgrounds; diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our values.

How to apply

• For further information on the role and click “how to apply”.
• The deadline to receive your application is 14 June, 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. Cochrane Fields serve as a bridge between the production of relevant Cochrane evidence and the implementation of that evidence into the wider field of interest that extends across several health topics. They advocate for the use of Cochrane evidence in health policy and practice and promote awareness and use of evidence-based practices in their area. Here we spotlight the impactful work of Cochrane Rehabilitation, dedicated to enhancing evidence-based rehabilitation practices worldwide.

Cochrane Rehabilitation, formally started in 2016, serves as a bridge between Cochrane and all rehabilitation stakeholders. "Our vision is a world where all rehabilitation decisions are based on the best available evidence, accessible and understood by all," says Stefano Negrini, Director of Cochrane Rehabilitation. With a global perspective that transcends professions and languages, Cochrane Rehabilitation aims to improve the production, dissemination, implementation, and impact of Cochrane rehabilitation evidence.

Cochrane Rehabilitation has been involved in a variety of projects to advance evidence-based practice in rehabilitation. One key initiative is the development of a comprehensive definition for rehabilitation research, which aims to standardise the description of interventions in rehabilitation research, facilitating both primary studies and systematic reviews. Another highlight has been the 5th Cochrane Rehabilitation Methodological Meeting, a global gathering focused on optimizing study designs for practical application in rehabilitation, which exemplifies their commitment to advancing the field. This work makes sure that future rehabilitation research and systematic reviews are of high quality. 

Cochrane Rehabilitation has expanded its reach through a diverse network of partners, including national, regional and international scientific societies, universities, hospitals, journals, and other rehabilitation stakeholders including consumers.  Their advisory board is composed of various stakeholder representatives and experts from various fields within rehabilitation, ensuring alignment with the evolving needs of the global rehabilitation community. They also work with Cochrane geographical groups to translate Cochrane evidence and dissemination materials into multiple languages. "Dissemination is central to what we do and our collaborations with geographical groups and external organisations enhance our efforts and uptake of evidence. We are proud to help foster a culture of knowledge exchange within the global rehabilitation community," says Chiara Arienti, Cochrane Rehabilitation Coordinator. 

One notable partnership has been with the World Health Organization. Through this collaboration, they have developed Cochrane evidence maps for various health conditions, contributing to the Be4rehab project, the REH-COVER action, and the 'Evidence relevant to' project'. Since 2023, Cochrane has been an official member of the World Rehabilitation Alliance, launched by the WHO to promote rehabilitation as an essential health service.  "Our involvement with the World Rehabilitation Alliance supports the focus on promoting rehabilitation as a critical component of health services, thereby enhancing access to quality rehabilitation services worldwide. We are proud that Cochrane Rehabilitation is contributing to bringing trusted evidence to support health decisions and services in rehabilitation globally," notes Carlotte Kiekens, Co-Director of Cochrane Rehabilitation.

Looking ahead, Cochrane Rehabilitation is excited about several new initiatives, including collaborative research projects that engage with rehabilitation researchers to provide methodological guidance from the protocol phase through our Methodological Committee. "Currently, we are particularly focusing on Health Policy and Systems Research in rehabilitation, aiming to provide evidence on strategies for strengthening rehabilitation within health systems," explains Pierre Côté, Chair of the Methodological Committee. This effort aligns with the World Health Assembly resolution, whose goal is to enhance access to quality rehabilitation services worldwide.

Cochrane Rehabilitation welcomes support and collaboration from other groups and organizations to amplify their impact. "We are particularly seeking support in health policy and systems research and efforts in the global south. Continuous funding is also essential to guarantee our future activities. We invite all individuals, groups, and organizations interested in rehabilitation to work with us," emphasizes Francesca Gimigliano,  Cochrane Rehabilitation's Communication Committee Chair. If you are interested in contributing to their mission, please email cochranerehab@dongnocchi.it. Whether you’re a researcher, clinician, policymaker, or advocate, there are numerous opportunities to get involved and make a difference in rehabilitation globally!

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A review published in 2015 found a reduction of atrial fibrillation in people undergoing heart surgery if they were given statins before surgery. However, the review was withdrawn in 2016 when questions were raised about some of the included studies. To accompany the publication of the updated review, a Cochrane Library editorial, titled Preoperative statins in cardiac surgery: a tale of small study bias or ‘the truth, and nothing but the truth’, takes a closer look at how the authors handled study registration.

Statins, initially hailed for their potential to reduce cardiovascular risks, have been a topic of debate in the context of cardiac surgery. A recently updated Cochrane review, led by Marques Antunes and colleagues, scrutinised randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared statin therapy with placebo in the perioperative period of elective cardiac surgery. The review included eight RCTs involving 5,592 participants, following stringent criteria to exclude studies that did not have proof of ethics approval or did not have a pre-registered protocol.

The findings indicate that statin use in the perioperative period offers little to no difference in outcomes such as atrial fibrillation, postoperative short-term mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, and length of hospital stay. This comprehensive analysis challenges earlier suggestions of significant benefits from smaller, less robust studies.

Rui Providencia’s editorial underscores the critical role of methodological rigor in clinical research and the ongoing challenges posed by small study effects and potentially problematic clinical trials. Cochrane's efforts to exclude unreliable studies and focus on high-quality RCTs are highlighted as essential steps toward reliable evidence synthesis.

"The potential role of statins in patients undergoing cardiac surgery has been a matter of debate over recent years. In this editorial, we go through the important aspects raised by the authors of the recent Cochrane systematic review focusing on the topic."

- Rui Providencia 

The editorial and systematic review collectively underscore the need for cautious interpretation of past findings and the importance of ongoing research to establish clear clinical guidelines.

Read the Cochrane Library editorial:

Providencia R. Preoperative statins in cardiac surgery: a tale of small study bias or ‘the truth, and nothing but the truth’. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 1. Art. No.: ED000167. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.ED000167.

Specifications: Permanent – Full time
Salary: £43,000 per annum
Location: Remote working (UK office located in Central London)
Closing date:  12 June 2024

Cochrane is an international charity. For 30 years we have responded to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesising research findings and our work has been recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.
Cochrane's strength is in its collaborative, global community. We have 110,000+ members and supporters around the world. Though we are spread out across the globe, our shared passion for health evidence unites us. Our Central Executive Team supports this work and is divided into five directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, Chief Executive Office and Finance and Corporate Services.

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