The World Health Organization's latest breastfeeding guideline, Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services, has been published. This guideline provides global, evidence-informed recommendations on protection, promotion, and support of optimal breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services, as a public health intervention. It features evidence from 16 Cochrane Reviews; 7 Reviews from Cochrane Neonatal and 9 from Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth. 

View the WHO guideline and view the evidence included.
Related resources: 

• Enabling breastfeeding for mothers and babies - a Cochrane Special Collection - also in Croatian and Spanish.
• "New Cochrane Library Breastfeeding Special Collection" - Cochrane Australia news round-up and interview with author Christine East
• "Breastfeeding: evidence on effecting support and enablers for mothers and their babies" - blog post from author Christine East
• "Yummy, yummy in my tummy, getting big with milk from mummy. Getting preterm babies feeding orally - a roundup of current evidence." - Evidently Cochrane blog
• "Exclusive breastfeeding or extra food and fluids: evidence and practice - Evidently Cochrane blog.
• "New Lancet Breastfeeding Series is a call to action" - Evidently Cochrane blog.
• Podcast: Support for breastfeeding mothers
• "Support programs help moms extend breastfeeding time" - Reuters article

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 Category: Making a Difference

Closing Date: 16/11/2017
Duration: 1 December 2017 until 31 March 2020
Hours Per Week: 0.6 FTE
Salary: £31,604 to £38,833 pro rata per annum according to experience
Location: Oxford Road, Manchester

The Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group wishes to recruit a part-time Information Specialist. We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills to support the production of systematic reviews in the field of orthopaedic trauma.

You will be a graduate with a strong health information background.  A qualification in librarianship, information science or equivalent experience is essential. Experience of designing and conducting online literature searches of databases such as MEDLINE, good computer literacy and a sound knowledge of medical terminology and systematic reviews are also essential.

You will have excellent interpersonal, time management and organisational skills and be able to work with considerable autonomy to regular deadlines. 

• For more information and to apply.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 Category: Jobs

Cochrane Austria, Cochrane Russia, and Cochrane Sweden joined forces to deliver a truly International Cochrane event on evidence-based medicine, held in Kazan at the end of October. The successful workshop took place over two days and focused on review production software. It marked the third Cochrane workshop held in Russia to date.

The Vice Rector for Innovation, Andrey Artemyev, officially opened the workshop and gave a warm welcome to participants on behalf of the Rector of Kazan Federal University, Ilshat Gafurov.

The theme of the workshop was 'Cochrane systematic reviews: from protocol to review - logistics and challenges' and aimed to equip participants with knowledge and practical skills with regard to using Cochrane review production software Review Manager (RevMan).

Workshop participants had the opportunity to learn and actively interact with tutors on the most important issues of systematic literature search, selecting studies, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, meta-analysis, assessment of heterogeneity and quality of evidence, and use of supporting software (Covidence and RevMan).

The workshop was a huge success and marked the new level of joint collaborative work of Cochrane and Kazan Federal University, following the recent visit of Cochrane CEO Mark Wilson to Kazan and signing the partnership agreement with the Rector of the University Ilshat Gafurov.

We warmly thank our Cochrane tutors:

• Dr Gerald Gartlehner, Director of Cochrane Austria, DepartmentforEvidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Danube University Krems (Krems, Austria).
• Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit, Associate Director of Cochrane Austria, DepartmentforEvidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Danube University Krems (Krems, Austria).
• Dr Matteo Bruschettini, Director of Cochrane Sweden, Senior Consultant Neonatologist, Department of Paediatrics, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital (Lund, Sweden)

And all our participants, who were very active, inspiring, smart and stimulating representing 9 regions of the Russian Federation (Kazan, Kalinigrad, Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Perm, Samara, St'Petersburg, Uliyanovsk, and Ufa), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Columbia. 

Media coverage

• Russian newspaper coverage

Monday, November 6, 2017

Yoga originated thousands of years ago in India as an integrated physical, mental, and spiritual practice based on ancient Vedic philosophy, and is connected to Ayurveda, the system of traditional Indian medicine. During the 20th century, yoga became increasingly recognised outside India, and over the past decades it has continued to grow in popularity worldwide as system for promoting health and well-being. While modern yoga often focuses on physical poses and is sometimes thought of as a type of exercise, the practice usually incorporates one or more of the mental or spiritual elements that are traditionally part of yoga, such as relaxation, concentration, or meditation. For this reason, yoga is considered a mind-body exercise.

There are currently many different types or schools of yoga, each with a different emphasis on and approach to practice. It is widely thought that some of these yoga practices may help treat or prevent physical or mental illnesses, and improve the overall quality of life. There is therefore a need for information on the potential health benefits and harms of yoga.

The Cochrane Library Special Collection of systematic reviews on yoga focuses on reviews evaluating the effectiveness of yoga for improving physical or mental symptoms and quality of life in a range of health conditions. It has been developed to bring the best available evidence on the health-related effects of yoga to the attention of the general public, patients, health professionals, and other decision makers, and to inform choices on the use of yoga to improve health and well-being. This Special Collection has been collated by L Susan Wieland of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field, with reviews from the following Cochrane groups - Cochrane Airways, Cochrane Back and Neck; Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma; Cochrane Breast Cancer; Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group; Cochrane Epilepsy; Cochrane Haematological Malignancies; Cochrane Heart; and Cochrane Schizophrenia.
The Special Collection covers: 

• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Health of older people and improving balance
• Pulmonary conditions
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Mental health
• Neurological conditions
• Child health

Acess all articles in the Special Collection for free - Cochrane Library Special Collection: Yoga for improving health and well-being. Friday, November 3, 2017

Lisa Bero, a former Co-Chair of the Cochrane Governing Board, says public will increasingly demand less wining and dining, more independence from health professionals 

 Global authority on research integrity and industry bias in science Professor Lisa Bero has called for greater recognition of industry influence in science, following last week’s revelations that Australian nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists are receiving millions of dollars in payments from pharmaceutical companies.

‘All around the world this is a problem because physicians and other health professionals to some extent have this expectation that they are wined and dined and it's part of becoming a health professional,’ she told Australian podcast The Recommended Dose with Ray Moynihan.

‘There really needs to be a way to change the culture and I think this is going to come from consumers and people who understand that this is not acceptable.’

‘So the next step after disclosure will really be to minimize dependence on these industry payments. I think that's hard for some groups that may be totally dependent on industry so one way is to find alternative sources of funding, but a second issue that needs to be addressed is whether this funding is actually needed. So, for example, is all that money that is going to buy fancy lunches or a cruise on the harbour - is that really necessary? Or if it's being spent on glossy brochures that only promote one product - is that really necessary?’

In a wide-ranging interview, Professor Bero highlights the tangible ways conflicts of interest can influence the decision-making of individual doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, as well as the bigger picture agenda and outcomes in health, climate change, and nutrition research.

In a striking example, Professor Bero tells The Recommended Dose how her own nutrition research into how private companies influence public health outcomes in areas such as obesity was found to be being secretly ‘monitored’ by Coca-Cola, as uncovered by The Sydney Morning Herald late last year.

‘I wasn't at all surprised that Coca-Cola, once they realized my research agenda included nutrition, would be monitoring my work as well,’ she says. ‘I'm not worried about it because I've been working in this area for over 20 years and have put up with a lot of scrutiny and unpleasant comments from industry and it hasn't really changed what I do.’

‘But I can definitely see how for junior investigators this could have a chilling effect on their work, and that did concern me. So one of the things I do is to really encourage them…to look on the bright side. What it really does is make your research stronger because you know that people will be looking at it very carefully.’ Which clearly they are.

Professor Bero also shares her thoughts on leaving California to become a fully-fledged, ocean-swimming Sydneysider, who finds daily inspiration in the story of Charles Perkins – the first Aboriginal graduate of The University of Sydney. She also reflects on her role as Co-Chair of Cochrane and highlights the importance of health evidence that’s free from conflicts of interest or commercial influence of any kind.

Listen to the full interview on The Recommended Dose - now available on SoundCloud, iTunes and Stitcher.

Related resources

• Watch Lisa Bero on ABC News last week: Big Pharma paying nurses and allied health professionals millions
• Big pharma funding biases drug trials in favour of a sponsor’s product: review, The Sydney Morning Herald
• Drug companies pay doctors, nurses $9.5 million in six months for advice, event attendance, The Canberra Times 
• How food companies can sneak bias into scientific research - Lisa Bero in The Conversation
• Sydney University study claims industry funding leads to bias in artificial sweetener research, The Sydney Morning Herald
• Big food and big nutrition lies, The Sydney Morning Herald
• Lisa Bero takes up residence, Cochrane Australia News

Other relevant research:

• The latest Cochrane Review on Industry sponsorship and research outcome was published in February this year and includes 27 new studies and provides definitive evidence that pharmaceutical industry funding of drug studies biases results and conclusions to look favourable towards the drug of the sponsor.
• Lisa and Ray, who are occasional collaborators, are both co-authors on this recent study of more than 100 000 industry-funded winning and dining events for health professionals

About Cochrane & Cochrane Australia:

Cochrane is an independent, not-for-profit organisation made up of 37,000 contributors from 130 countries. We work together to make the vast amounts of evidence generated through research useful and accessible for individuals, organizations, and governments around the world. 

Cochrane produces trusted health information in the form of systematic reviews that are free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. Our evidence underpins and informs the daily decisions of clinicians, patients and carers, researchers, policymakers, and funding bodies. Our work is recognized as representing an international gold standard for high-quality, trusted information. 

Cochrane Australia is an active part of this collaborative network, with over 3,000 local researchers, clinicians and patient advocates who synthesize and analyze the latest health research. Our contributors can be found in all corners of the continent, from Darwin to Hobart, from Perth to Brisbane, and most places in between.  The Cochrane Australia centre is located in Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne.

Cochrane Australia is funded by the Australian Government through the NHMRC. The NHMRC also funds a national subscription to the Cochrane Library, ensuring all Australians have free access to the best in trusted health evidence. 

Find out more at cochrane.org (Global Cochrane site) and at australia.cochrane.org (Cochrane Australia) or follow us on twitter at @cochraneaus

About Ray Moynihan

Ray is a man with many hats... Currently a Senior Research Fellow at Bond University’s Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice, and an NHMRC Early Career Fellow, he is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author. Ray spent plenty of time as a producer at the ABC’s flagship investigative TV program Four Corners, as a reporter at the ABC TV’s 7:30 Report and as a presenter on Radio National. He’s written four books on the business of medicine, including Selling Sickness, which has been translated into 12 languages.

He is also a former Harkness fellow at Harvard University, has been a columnist with the BMJ and the Medical Journal of Australia, and has also had original research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, PLOS Medicine and the BMJ - to name a few. Regularly interviewed by media globally, and invited to speak around the world, Ray has a long-time interest in the evidence-informed approach and the work of Cochrane.

Friday, November 3, 2017

Cochrane exists so that healthcare decisions get better.

Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers, and people interested in health. Many of our contributors are world leaders in their fields - medicine, health policy, research methodology, or consumer advocacy - and our groups are situated in some of the world's most respected academic and medical institutions.

Cochrane contributors - 37,000 from more than 130 countries - work together to produce credible, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. We gather and analyze the  best available evidence to help people make informed decisions about health and health care.

We do not accept commercial or conflicted funding. This is vital for us to generate authoritative and reliable information, working freely, unconstrained by commercial and financial interests. Our work is recognized as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.


The need for Cochrane's work is even greater than it was when we started 20 years ago. As access to health evidence increases, so do the risks of misinterpreting complex content; meanwhile the likelihood of any one person getting a complete and balanced picture decreases. Our mission to provide accessible, credible information to support informed decision-making has never been more important or useful for improving global health.

• View our evidence
• Learn more about Cochrane’s mission
• Get involved
• Make a donation

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Closing date for applications: Sunday 12 November 2016

Edge Hill University is looking for an experienced Senior Research Associate to work on an integrative, mixed-methods systematic review on respite care and short breaks for young adults with complex health conditions funded by the National Institute for Health Research. You will work with a team from Edge Hill University, University of Bangor, and Lancaster University.

For complete information on the position and how to apply, please see the full job posting.

 

Tuesday, October 31, 2017 Category: Jobs

Job title: Research Associate – Information Scientist
Closing date: 26th November 2017
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: £34,520 - £38,833

Job Purpose
We are delighted to be advertising this full timepost for an information scientist to provide professional and technical support to meet the information science needs of the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (SPHSU), University of Glasgow and Cochrane Public Health (CPH). 

Specifically, the postholder will provide specialist information science support for a wide range of research projects conducted across the MRC/CSO SPHSU and for CPH, as well as providing information science support for publication related activity within SPHSU. This will include leading on the development and conduct of complex search strategies for systematic reviews, negotiating with, training and advising unit staff on key elements of information science and institutional requirements for publications and copyright. The post requires a familiarity with systematic review methods, and an ability to appraise the quality of published reviews. In addition, the postholder will be expected to facilitate incorporation of innovative approaches to searching and screening procedures for systematic reviews, and publish research in the area of evidence synthesis and information science for healthy public policy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Perform the following activities in conjunction with the Principal Investigator (PI):

1. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/Institute of Health & Wellbeing research strategy.
2. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
3. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the Institute of Health & Wellbeing including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals and conferences, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.
4. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area in relation to the information science requirements, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.
5. Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.
6. Identify potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.
7. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research Institute of Health & Wellbeing and wider community (e.g. academic and Cochrane Public Health).
8. Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and Institute research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the Institute of Health & Wellbeing and MVLS College.
9. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.
10. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and Institute, including budgets/expenditure.
11. Make a leading contribution to outreach and recruitment activities of the University of Glasgow.
12. Make a leading contribution to teaching activities and associated administration as assigned by the Director of Institute of Health & Wellbeing and in consultation with the PI.
13. Be responsible for safety management and research governance matters related to the work undertaken as part of this post in accordance with MRC|CSO SPHSU and GU policies.
14. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.
15. Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
16. Undertake any other duties of equivalent standing as assigned by the Director of Institute of Health & Wellbeing and/or PI.

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks which the staff member may be reasonably expected to perform.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and  Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:
A1. Postgraduate qualification (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11(Postgraduate Diploma) or equivalent with some research and/or teaching experience,and working towards membership of an appropriate professional body/Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11 (Masters Degree) or equivalent professional experience, and be working towards membership of an appropriate professional teaching body (e.g. HEA). A2. Extensive and up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge in areas related to information science.
A3. Understanding of Open Access requirements.and Intellectual Property protection, including issues of copyright.
A4. Knowledge of Open Access publication requirements
A5. Understanding of relevant health and safety policies and procedures relative to the role.Desirable:
B1. Knowledge of systematic review methods, including familiarity with criteria recommended to assessing the quality of systematic reviews.
B2. Familiar with Cochrane approaches to searching and documentation required to support publication of a Cochrane systematic review.
B3. Familiar with recent applications of text mining to systematic reviews.

Skills
Essential:
C1. High level of competency in designing and conducting searches of bibliographic databases to support complex systematic reviews.
C2. High level of competency in managing bibliographic software, including facilitating imports and tailored outputs.
C3. Competent in delivering training, at group or one-to-one level, on information science skills for public health.
C4. Research creativity and strong cross-discipline collaborative ability as appropriate.
C5. Highly motivated, ability to use initiative and quick to learn new techniques.
C6. Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely.
C7. Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.
C8. Willingness and aptitude to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
C9. Appropriate workload and time management skills.
C10. Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate.
C11. Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach.
C12. Excellent negotiation skills
C13. Good team leadership skills including demonstrable supervisory skillsDesirable:
D1. Familiar with criteria recommended to assessing the quality of systematic reviews.
D2. Able to apply text mining techniques to expedite screening of literature searches.
D3. Able to assess Risk of Bias across different study types.

Experience

Essential:
E1. Sufficient breadth and/or depth of knowledge in specialist subject/discipline and of research/teaching methods and techniques relevant to project subject area.E2. Substantial experience of developing and conducting searches for systematic reviews.
E3. Extensive experience searching for research and policy documents.
E4. Experience of scientific writing.
Experience of providing training on searching skills to researchers
E5. Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner
E6. A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences. 
E7. Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities.
E8. Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design & analysis of data & drafting of papers.
E9. Experience of working independently.Desirable:
F1. An emerging national or international reputation.
F2. Assessment of Risk of Bias/critical appraisal of studies- both randomised and non-randomised studiesJob Features

Dimensions

• To carry out a range of functions to support the research projects being conducted within academic environments of the highest national or international quality.
• Contribute to research publications as appropriate to specific contribution related to technical support.
• Publish and seek funding as appropriate to subject specialism within agreed timescales.
• Informal supervision and support of less experienced members of the project team e.g. postgraduate and project students.
• Undertake teaching or other duties in accordance to meet needs of MRC|CSO SPHSU.
• Engage in personal, professional and career development to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
• Leadership in the design and implementation in your specific research project(s) as appropriate.
• Planning and Organising.
• Management of time and prioritisation of research, teaching and administrative duties.
• Planning, organisation and implementation of research project on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Plan research directions that are within the available budget.
• React to varying project needs and deadlines.

Decision Making

• Undertake decision making on all aspects of research project/activities. 
• Prioritise own, and where appropriate delegate to junior team members workload.
• Decide on research directions and goals within remit of original project proposal.
• Adjust research approaches to meet project outcomes.
• Identify best journals for publication and meetings/conferences to attend.
• Purchase of equipment and materials.

Internal/External Relationships

• University colleagues: to exchange information to ensure efficient working and to facilitate cross disciplinary working.
• External bodies/collaborators: proactively maintain co-operation and links at all levels to enhance profile and reputation.
• Dissemination: preparation and presentation of reports/results and participation in meetings and conference calls.

Problem Solving

• Research including technical and theoretical aspects, problem solving and development of novel ideas.
• Awareness of project and budgetary issues and equipment lead times.
• Assistance of undergraduate/postgraduate students and junior team members with problems relating to research project.

Other

• Representation of the University/College/ through presentation at national and international events.
• Attendance at training events to learn and implement new research technologies.
• Prepared to travel to work in the UK/Europe and elsewhere as required by the University.

About the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit

The aim of the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit is to improve human health and wellbeing via the study of social, behavioural, economic, cultural and environmental influences on health. Our more specific objectives include:

• studying the multiple interacting processes through which biological, social, behavioural, economic, cultural and environmental factors influence physical and mental health and health behaviours over the lifecourse;
• discovering mechanisms which can modify these processes and have the potential to improve public health in a complex and changing world;
• developing and evaluating interventions which harness these mechanisms to improve public health and reduce social inequalities in health; and
• influencing policy and practice by communicating the results and implications of research to a range of audiences.

Dr Hilary Thomson, welcomes informal enquiries from potential applicants to discuss this post. Please e-mail: hilary.thomson@glasgow.ac.uk. For more information and to apply see  https://www.gla.ac.uk/it/iframe/jobs/ and search the job title. 

  Monday, October 30, 2017 Category: Jobs

Become a Cochrane citizen scientist!

crowd.cochrane.org

This platform will enable anyone to get involved with Cochrane and help identify the evidence we need to make informed healthcare decisions.

The platform builds on the hugely successful Embase project where a community of over 2,000 people helped identify well over 20,000 reports of randomized trials for Cochrane’s Central Register of Controlled Trials. Cochrane Crowd offers this same task but with some significant enhancements:

 

 And the fun is only just beginning. Over the next few weeks and months, Cochrane Crowd will roll out more tasks aimed at classifying and describing the evidence.

Go on, take a look: crowd.cochrane.org and see if you can you find an RCT today!

Monday, October 30, 2017

Post: Associate Editor
Location: Flexible
Specifications:  Full time/part-time. Permanent contract, subject to 6-month probationary period
Salary: Up to £45,000 dependent on skills and experience
Closing date for applications:  30th November 2017 

Context

Cochrane is creating eight new Networks of Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) responsible for the efficient and timely production of high quality systematic reviews that address the research questions that are most important to decision makers. The creation of these thematic Networks provides an exciting opportunity for experts in the field to join Cochrane’s new editorial leadership and help the organization deliver its Strategy to 2020 objectives.

The Networks cover the review production areas of:

• Acute and Emergency Care;
• Brain, Nerves and Mind;
• Cancer;
• Children and Families;
• Circulation and Breathing;
• Long-term Conditions and Ageing (two distinct Networks); and
• Public Health and Health Systems.

With the creation of the Networks, Cochrane will reassign members of the team carrying out pre-publication screening of reviews to work directly with the Networks as Associate Editors.  We are seeking to appoint at least 1 FTE Associate Editor to become part of the team.

The team will focus on continuing supporting and developing processes for quality assuring Cochrane Reviews, with a particular emphasis on earlier screening of reviews, protocols and updates against the MECIR quality standards and helping to develop resources and guidance on quality assurance of Cochrane Reviews.  In addition, the Associate Editors will support other activities that will contribute to the development of the networks, including supporting prioritisation activities, and development of a strategic or development plan for the network.

Accountability and Responsibility

The Associate Editor is accountable to the Senior Editor within the CEU with responsibility for review quality.

The Associate Editor will play an operational role in:

• Supporting network Senior Editors
• Helping groups to identify and manage poor-quality reviews in the early stages of the review process;
• Providing back-up screening and editorial support to CRGs within the Network;
• Supporting the development and implementation of appropriate and consistent editorial processes for the Network;
• support the Senior Editor in the communication between the Network and CET with respect to issues of quality, editorial process, training, technology, knowledge translation, and innovations of methods in Cochrane Reviews.
• Supporting prioritisation and the development of the Network strategic plan.

Person specification

The Associate Editor will join the team which has been working with CRGs through the CEU screening programme, and will work with one or two named Networks.

Essential attributes:

• Degree in relevant field or equivalent
• An understanding of the importance of systematic reviews to clinical decision making
• Familiarity with Cochrane guidance and standards on the design, conduct, and reporting of systematic reviews, including MECIR and GRADE methods.
• Intermediate level IT skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Knowledge and skills relevant to the systematic review process
• Strong organization and prioritization skills
• Attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work methodically and accurately
• A pro-active approach to problem-solving
• Experience of conducting Cochrane systematic reviews
• Past or present experience of providing technical editing for systematic reviews

Desirable attributes:

• An ability to develop and maintain working relationships with key stakeholders
• Hold an editorial position within Cochrane (e.g. Managing Editor, Editorial Assistant, Cochrane Review Group Editors, including scientific, methodological, or statistical editors)

Term of appointment and recruitment process

This position is open to anyone who meets the requirements described above.

All applications will be reviewed by the Editor in Chief, the Deputy Editor in Chief, and the CEU Senior Editor with responsibility for review quality.

We are open to job share applications that describe how the functions will be divided, and how continuity will be achieved. We would also welcome applications from candidates wishing to undertake this role as a part-time secondment from their employer.

The appointment process will consider the need for all aspects of diversity, including those of gender, age, experience, language and geographical location.

To apply please send a letter, Curriculum Vitae, and letter of support to recruitment@cochrane.org by Monday 30th November 2017.

 

About Cochrane
Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers, and people interested in health.

Cochrane produces reviews which study all of the best available evidence generated through research and make it easier to inform decisions about health. Cochrane is a not-for-profit organization with collaborators from more than 130 countries working together to produce credible, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. Our work is recognized as representing an international gold standard for high-quality, trusted information.

 

Friday, November 3, 2017 Category: Jobs

Specifications: Full Time
Salary: Up to £30,000
Location: London, UK
Application Closing Date: 20/11/2017

Cochrane is a global, independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of research evidence useful for informing decisions about health. We do this by synthesizing research findings to produce the best available evidence on what can work, what might harm and where more research is needed. Our work is recognised as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

This role is an exciting opportunity to use your experience in office management, facilities, and administration to support colleagues in making a difference in the field of health care research.
The Office Manager will be responsible for providing the facilities management for Cochrane’s London Office, including acting as the first point of contact with the landlord and managing agents; managing the general administration requirements for the Central Executive Teams, and to help ensure that the best value is obtained for all office expenditure.

We are looking for a self-motivated and highly organised individual who is able to work effectively and collaboratively with a diverse range of contacts both within and external to the organisation. The successful candidate will also have:

• Previous Office/facilities management experience.
• Excellent typing skills - speed and accuracy essential.
• Excellent IT skills, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload amid conflicting demands and busy work periods.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Confident in problem solving and using initiative.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels.
• Proven ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. 
• Ability to exercise discretion and diplomacy in dealing with confidential or sensitive matters.
• Attention to detail/accuracy.
• Adaptability.

Previous experience within the healthcare sector would be useful.

If you would like to apply for this position, please send a CV along with a supporting statement with ‘Office Manager’ in the subject line to recruitment@cochrane.org. The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements for the post outlined in the job description using specific examples. List your experience, achievements, knowledge, personal qualities, and skills which you feel are relevant to the post.

For further information, please review the full job description.

Deadline for applications: 20/11/2017 (12 midnight GMT)

Friday, October 27, 2017 Category: Jobs

The Bill Silverman Prize is awarded to acknowledge explicitly the value of criticism of Cochrane, with a view to helping to improve its work, and thus achieve its aim of helping people make well-informed decisions about health care by providing the best possible evidence on the effects of healthcare interventions. It is awarded every year at the Cochrane Colloquium.

We are seeking someone external to Cochrane, to join the Bill Silverman Prize Committee. Deadline: 30 November.

“Cochrane’s mission is to provide accessible and credible information to support informed decision-making. Therefore, Cochrane values constructive criticism of its work and publicly recognizes this through the Bill Silverman Prize. Such criticisms based on high quality research facilitate improvement or change in Cochrane methods and policy. We look forward to receiving your nominations.” 
Yemisi Takwoingi, 2014 Bill Silverman Prize winner

William (Bill) Silverman, MD
William (Bill) Silverman (1924-2004) was one of the founders of American neonatal medicine. He was honoured repeatedly as one of the pioneers in his specialty; however, he often evoked somewhat contradictory responses amongst his colleagues because he was in the habit of raising troubling questions about the scientific basis and ethics of his and their practices. Like many of the people who have helped to establish Cochrane, Bill Silverman could be regarded as a 'troublemaker'. As he reiterated frequently, however, criticism is a form of troublemaking that can help to drive progress. Furthermore, criticism should not be limited to examining the work of others, but should also include self-criticism.

Bill Silverman Prize
The Bill Silverman Prize is offered annually and explicitly acknowledges Cochrane's value of criticism, with a view to helping to improve its work, and thus achieve its aim of helping people make well-informed decisions about health care by providing the best possible evidence on the effects of healthcare interventions. The Cochrane Steering Group approved the establishment of the Prize in 2007, and it was awarded for the first time in 2008.

The prize is for a published paper which demonstrates originality and critical thinking, either in evaluating any aspect of the preparation, maintenance or dissemination of Cochrane Reviews or about the work of Cochrane more generally. It should be of high quality, have been accompanied by constructive suggestions on how the relevant aspects of Cochrane’s work could be improved; and have had, or is likely to have, a positive impact on the scientific quality, relevance and use of Cochrane Reviews.

The Prize is awarded to the corresponding author of the selected publication, and comprises a cash award of  USD $1000  and a certificate. It is this person’s responsibility to distribute the cash award in a fair way to co-authors of the paper.

Committee
The Prize Committee comprises five members, at least two of whom do not have an active role within any Cochrane Group (other than, possibly, as an author or referee of one or more Cochrane Reviews). The other members are the most recent winners of the Prize. Members of the Committee for 2018 are and Jamie Kirkham (2015 winner, Co-Chair), Rodolfo Saracci (external, Co-Chair), Michelle Roseman (2013 winner), and David Henry (2017 winner).

Could you be our next external committee member?
Contact Jamie Kirkham at J.J.Kirkham@liverpool.ac.uk, if you are interested in joining the committee.

Deadline: 30 November

Key requirements:

·         No active role within any Cochrane Group (other than, possibly, as an author or referee of one or more Cochrane Reviews)

·         Available between June – August 2018 to review prize nominations

Friday, October 27, 2017 Category: Jobs

Leading US psychiatrist Dr Allen Frances today warns of the increasing dangers of over-medicalisation and overdiagnosis in Australia and around the world, saying ‘people are way too frightened of disease, and way too little frightened of the treatments for disease.’

Described as one of world's most prominent psychiatrists, Dr Allen Frances recently made headlines for the controversial claim that 'Donald Trump isn't mad, we are'. In a new episode of Australian podcast The Recommended Dose with Ray Moynihan, he shares the thinking behind this now infamous statement and goes on to look at the increasingly critical area of overdiagnosis and labelling of everyday life experiences such as grief and loss as mental illness. 

In recent years, Allen Frances headed the Taskforce which wrote the 4th edition of the influential psychiatric manual of mental disorders, the DSM. But now, he's become one of its loudest critics. ‘We're taking every day experiences that are part of the human condition and we're overdiagnosing them as mental disorders, and way too often providing a pill when there's not really a pill solution for every problem in life,’ Dr Frances says.

In the interview, Allen Frances also talks candidly about the time when he was the recipient of pharmaceutical company generosity - explaining his feeling now of regret and cautioning young doctors to avoid all financial ties with the industry.

And in an analogy that will resonate in Australia - where property is something of a national pre-occupation - he cautions that taking ongoing medication is as serious a decision as buying a house.

‘You wouldn't go and buy your house after a 10 minute evaluation,’ says Dr Frances. ‘People should be as careful about accepting or giving diagnoses and as careful about considering medication as they would be for a major life decision.'

‘It's the easiest thing in the world to give a diagnosis and to write a pill prescription. It's the hardest thing in the world often to get rid of a diagnosis once it's been established... A wrong diagnosis made in 10 minutes can haunt for life. A medication given casually can do great harm, very little good. So this is a serious moment in a person's life.’

Dr Frances also highlights the increasing rates of ADHD diagnoses and the medicalisation of children and young people as a critical area in need of urgent attention.

'I think we're doing a massive worldwide experiment on immature brains, bombarding them with very powerful chemicals without any knowledge whatever about what the long term outcome will be and without informed consent.’

Listen to the full interview on The Recommended Dose - now available on SoundCloud. Available on iTunes and Stitcher from Thursday 26 October.

You can also hear The BMJ's Editor-in-Chief Fiona Godlee in conversation with Ray on episode one, talking about the need for much greater independence between doctors and drug companies, and sharing some intimate details about what drives this extraordinary woman.

--ENDS--

Media contacts:
Shauna Hurley
Producer, The Recommended Dose
Cochrane Australia
553 St Kilda Road Melbourne
Mobile:  0400 018 570
Email: media@cochrane.org.au

* Contact Shauna for broadcast quality audio grabs of the Allen Frances interview.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

About Cochrane & Cochrane Australia

Cochrane is an independent, not-for- profit organisation made up of 37,000 contributors from 130 countries. We work together to make the vast amounts of evidence generated through research useful and accessible for individuals, organisations and governments around the world. 

Cochrane produces trusted health information in the form of systematic reviews that are free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. Our evidence underpins and informs the daily decisions of clinicians, patients and carers, researchers, policymakers and funding bodies. Our work is recognised as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information. 

Cochrane Australia is an active part of this collaborative network, with over 3,000 local researchers, clinicians and patient advocates who synthesise and analyse the latest health research. Our contributors can be found in all corners of the continent, from Darwin to Hobart, from Perth to Brisbane and most places in between.  The Cochrane Australia centre is located in Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne.

Cochrane Australia is funded by the Australian Government through the NHMRC. The NHMRC also funds a national subscription to the Cochrane Library, ensuring all Australians have free access to the best in trusted health evidence. 

Find out more at cochrane.org (Global Cochrane site) and at australia.cochrane.org (Cochrane Australia) or follow us on twitter at @cochraneaus

About Ray Moynihan

Ray is a man with many hats... Currently a Senior Research Fellow at Bond University’s Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice, and an NHMRC Early Career Fellow, he is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author. Ray spent plenty of time as a producer at the ABC’s flagship investigative TV program Four Corners, as a reporter at the ABC TV’s 7:30 Report and as a presenter on Radio National. He’s written 4 books on the business of medicine, including Selling Sickness, which has been translated into 12 languages.

He is also a former Harkness fellow at Harvard University, has been a columnist with the BMJ and the Medical Journal of Australia, and has also had original research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, PLOS Medicine and the British Medical Journal - to name a few. Regularly interviewed by media globally, and invited to speak around the world, Ray has a long-time interest in the evidence-informed approach and the work of Cochrane.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Hours: Full time (1.0 FTE)
Basis: Fixed term contract for 12 months
Grade: I (£41,709 to £48,327)
Closing Date: 19 November 2017
Interview Date: 21 December 2017

The School of Medicine wishes to appoint a Research Project Lead who will be based at UCLan Preston Campus, but will be expected to work collaboratively with the wider study team internationally employing IT solutions to achieve this. This role will involve core Cochrane systematic reviewing, together with leadership, coordination and dissemination activities. The post holder will work closely with other researchers, as well as the CI. There will be a significant volume of research output and scholarly content to be produced, as well as facilitating the wider team. Expect 6-8 full reviews per annum to be completed with the post holder as an author and major contributor, as well as 4-6 protocols, associated positions pieces, editorials and patient/servicer user materials.

With experience of teaching in HE, academic assessment of students and authorship of numerous Cochrane reviews, you will have a sound understanding of the work of the Chochrane collaboration and the nature of systematic reviews.

You will have postgraduate training in an appropriate field to at least Masters level, including epidemiology, public health and medical specialities. A PhD or Professional Doctorate qualification are not essential requirements, but would be desirable.

You must possess excellent communication and presentation skills; have an ability to work within a multidisciplinary team and maintain good working relationships with other healthcare professions. With a professional, innovative and flexible approach, you will have a commitment to the missions and values of the University.

Informal enquiries are welcomed - please contact Morris Gordon, Head of Professionalism and Careers, via email in the first instance mgordon@uclan.ac.uk.

Applicants need to meet all essential criteria on the person specification to be considered for interview. This position is based in Preston, UK.

Please apply online via www.uclan.ac.uk/jobs or by contacting Human Resources on 01772 892324 and quoting the reference number. CVs will not be considered unless accompanied by a completed application form.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017 Category: Jobs

Specifications: 0.4 – 0.8 Full Time Equivalent. Secondment or contracted engagements are able to be negotiated.
Salary: D.O.E
Location: Flexible (remote)
Application Closing Date: Friday November 3rd, 2017 

Covidence is seeking to grow our user engagement and support team with a North American based Community Manager. For more details and to apply, please go to http://bit.ly/2ifBldq or email hello@covidence.org.  

You will work to understand user needs, support users in their experience using Covidence, manage major institutional accounts, and contribute to the design and development of Covidence. Working with researchers from around the world you will collaborate to build a new way of making sense of research data, transforming the impact that research can have on health and wellbeing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the development of the Covidence user community, by designing, implementing and evaluating user support activities, including webinars, onboarding user journeys, retention programs, support requests and other user interactions.
• Deliver the Covidence account management program, engaging effectively with major institutional customers and individual users. 
• Develop and maintain user support resources, including the CovidenceKnowledge base and other online text and video materials.
• Support the development of the Covidence community through online interaction in forums and social media.
• Build and support the Covidence community through organizational engagement, presentations, workshops and networking.
• Communicate user and community needs to the Covidence strategy and software development teams.
• Contribute to associated systematic review innovation and research projects.

KEY CAPABILITIES

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong ability to work with online technologies and social media
• Highly organised with proven ability to appropriately prioritise tasks and deliver on time in a busy environment
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently and to work with others in globally distributed teams in a collegiate manner

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience supporting and/or training systematic review authors
• Demonstrable experience conducting systematic reviews, Cochrane Reviews and/or Health Technology Assessments
• Experience in the use of new technologies, particularly if related to evidence synthesis/systematic review
• Experience in online community development and/or user support
• Experience in customer service

OTHER JOB-RELATED INFORMATION

• Secondment or contracted engagements are able to be negotiated
• The successful applicant will preferably be based in the US, but consideration will be given to applicants working from other locations
• Travel to local, national and international meetings and conferences is required
• Involvement in international activities entails participation in some early morning and evening teleconferences
• Peak periods of work may occur at varying times, during which the taking of leave may be restricted

ABOUT VERITAS HEALTH INNOVATION

Veritas Health Innovation is an Australian non-profit organisation committed to improving health and wellbeing through the use of the best available evidence.

Our vision is a world where answers to questions about health, education and other fields of human wellbeing are accurate, up to date, and accessible.

Our mission is to provide digital services that improve scientific knowledge for health and wellbeing.

ABOUT COVIDENCE

Veritas pursues its mission through Covidence (www.covidence.org), an online platform that accelerates the production of systematic reviews. It helps systematic reviewers identify relevant research, appraise its quality, extract relevant data and prepare data ready for analysis. Covidence also helps users keep all their data in one place and enables remote teams to collaborate easily.

Covidence has a major research and innovation focus on improving the efficiency and experience of systematic review production with the aim of dramatically reducing the time to complete or update a review. In randomized tests, Covidence reduces the time required to conduct key systematic review tasks by over a third, saving 71 hours of effort per review and to date over a million hours of person time globally.

Covidence is the standard author tool for Cochrane, the world’s largest and best known organisation working in systematic review.

Covidence has developed an enthusiastic and rapidly growing user base and we are now seeking experienced researchers to support and develop the Covidence user community.  

For more details and to apply, please go to http://bit.ly/2ifBldq or email hello@covidence.org.   Wednesday, October 25, 2017 Category: Jobs

Every year World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in Croatia, and to commemorate this year’s theme ‘Sustaining breastfeeding together’, Cochrane Croatia took on the challenge of translating Cochrane’s Special Collection on Breastfeeding. 

Volunteers from Cochrane Croatia and their partner organisation, Croatia Association of Lactation Consultants, translated all 19 Cochrane Plain Language Summaries in the ‘Enabling breastfeeding for mothers and babies’ Special Collection. This Cochrane Special Collection  has been developed to bring the best available evidence on effective care to the attention of decision makers, health professionals, advocacy groups, and women and families, and to support the implementation of evidence-informed policy and practice. The collection focuses on reviews on support and care for breastfeeding women, including treatment of breastfeeding associated problems; health promotion and an enabling environment; and breastfeeding babies with additional needs. 

To raise awareness of the availability of translated Cochrane evidence, Cochrane Croatia Co-Director, Irena Zakarija-Grković, presented Cochrane’s Special Breastfeeding Collection to over 120 health professionals at the 5th Annual Croatian Breastfeeding Symposium, held recently in Zagreb, in addition to the maternity staff of the University Hospital of Split.

• Read the English Special Collection
• Read this news item in Croatian
• Read Cochrane Evidence in Croatian
• Visit Cochrane Croatia
• Visit the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group
• Visit the Cochrane Neonatal Group

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Specifications: 1 FTE
Salary: Competitive 
Location: Flexible
Application Closing Date: Monday 13 November 2017

Cochrane’s Communications and External Affairs Department (CEAD) seeks a Communications and External Affairs Co-ordinator to provide effective and efficient general administrative support services to CEAD, develop and implement Cochrane’s external affairs and fund-raising proposals, and to help co-ordinateour already established communications activities along with supporting Cochrane’s annual events calendar.  

Key Tasks:

• Communications planning support and responsibility for departmental logistics.
• Organizing and booking teleconferences. Diary management and meeting arrangements.External Affairs planning support including administrative support for Cochrane’s fund-raising requirements.
• Planning and administrative support for Cochrane’s Knowledge Translation’s implementation plan.
• Administrative support to Cochrane’s annual events including support to stipend committees, updating website content, travel and accommodation bookings.Working with all members of our Communications and External Affairs Department to ensure smooth day-to-day running of our operational systems and processes.
• General administrative duties across wider teams within the Central Executive Team as and when required.  
• Supporting meetings as required including co-ordinating agendas, taking minutes, circulating paperwork and follow-up actions.

Essential:

• Experience in a similar role, events support and project management would be highly advantageous.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work assignments.
• Ability to work alongside varied teams in different cultural and linguistic settings.
• Confident use of key Microsoft software, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience in/willingness to learn basic website editing would be advantageous.
• Professional organizational skills.
• Impressive interpersonal skills both in person and by email and Skype.
• Ability to accomplish projects with little supervision.
• Proven experience of building productive working relationships, both internally and externally, in an international and geographically dispersed environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Project management experience, well-organized, have good attention to detail.
• Willingness to work flexibly, across a wider Central Executive administrative team.
• Knowledge of Cochrane would be beneficial.
• Commitment to Cochrane’s mission and values.

Desirable:

• Experience of healthcare charity sector.
• Other events support experience such as fund-raising, marketing, brand communications and delivering promotional activities.

To apply please send a letter and up-to-date Curriculum Vitae to recruitment@cochrane.org by Monday 13th November 2017.

  Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Category: Jobs

Based at: University of York - Heslington Campus, UK
Hours of Work: Part-time
Salary: £31,604 - £38,832 reduced pro rata
Apply by: 3 November 2017

Following their move to the University of York, the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders group are seeking to recruit a part-time Information Specialist, based in the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.

You will be educated to degree level with a qualification in librarianship, information science, health sciences or a related subject or equivalent experience are essential. You will have a strong health information background with experience of designing and conducting online literature searches of databases such as MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO. You will also have good computer literacy skills, and a sound knowledge of medical terminology and systematic reviews are essential.

You will have excellent interpersonal, time management and organisational skills, and be able to work with considerable autonomy to regular deadlines. You will work as a member of a small team alongside members of CMD and other CRD information specialists. 

• Further information about this position and to apply.

Monday, October 16, 2017 Category: Jobs

The Centre for Health Policy (CHP) is a South African health systems and policy research unit based in the School of Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. CHP employs a multi-disciplinary group of public health and social scientists and offers a dynamic environment in which to conduct cutting-edge health systems and policy research that strongly encourages writing for publication. The Centre provides opportunities for engagement in South African health sector policy and as well as international academic consortia. CHP has an established national and international reputation.
Website: http://www.wits.ac.za/chp

The Centre for Health Policy is a member of South African Initiative for rapid evidence syntheses and systematic reviews on health policies and systems (SAI) as well as the Global Evidence Synthesis Initiative (GESI). Both initiatives aim to build capacity to conduct rapid reviews and syntheses of evidence in the field of health systems and policy, and to promote the use of reviews amongst public health decision makers, practitioners, researchers and civil society. CHP intends to establish a rapid evidence synthesis service to clients who need rapid, high quality syntheses that are easily accessible and translatable for uptake by policy makers and lobbyists.  

We are looking for a researcher to work on this exciting project. The appointment will be on a fixed term contract, renewable depending on availability of funding.  
The successful candidate will be tasked with:
•    conducting rapid syntheses
•    conducting database searches and grey literature searches
•    upload and manage searches on electronic platforms like Covidence
•    extracting data and drafting a narrative synthesis

The successful candidate will be highly motivated and will:
•    hold a Masters in public health, epidemiology, sociology, political science, development studies, health economics; or equivalent Master’s degree
•    have excellent writing skills (proof will be required)
•    be able to apply their minds to complex questions and the complexities of health systems implementation
•    have evidence of research, scholarly ability and output. (10 DOHET/ISI- accredited publications are required for a senior researcher appointment).

The following will be advantageous:
•    have experience in working on systematic reviews
•    have a good grasp of both qualitative and quantitative design and methods
•    Experience of contributing to policy development and/or implementation
•    Research supervision an advantage (researcher appointment); or evidence of teaching experience and postgraduate supervision (senior researcher)

Training will be provided in synthesis methods. There are opportunities to pursue a PhD within the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand if the successful candidate is interested.

Enquiries (only): Prof Jane Goudge, email jane.goudge@gmail.com.
Applications will ONLY be accepted through the Wits IRecruitment online system

The remuneration package would be commensurate with experience and is subject to the University’s regulations.

Closing date: 27 October 2017

To apply:
Please submit the following documents on http://www.wits.ac.za/vacancies/ or for internal applicants https://irec.wits.ac.za  

o    a covering letter outlining your interest and suitability for this position
o    a detailed CV, including contact details
o    names, addresses and contact details of 3 referees whom may be contacted
o    certified copies of degrees/diplomas
o    certified copy of ID (or passport and visa)
o    a short piece of recent written work undertaken solely or predominantly by yourself

The University is committed to employment equity.  Preference will be given to appointable applicants from the designated South African groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment, to re-advertise and to verify all information provided by candidates. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates.

Monday, October 16, 2017 Category: Jobs

The Recommended Dose launches today with one of the world’s most influential doctors, BMJ editor-in-chief Fiona Godlee calling for a move away from drug company-funded science – towards a more independent evaluation of medicines.

Multi-award-winning journalist and health researcher Dr Ray Moynihan today launched a compelling new podcast series produced by Cochrane Australia.

‘This new series tackles the big questions in health and offers new insights  evidence and ideas from some of the world’s most fascinating and prolific researchers, writers and thinkers,’ says Ray. ‘Its aim is to promote a more questioning approach to health care.’

Episode one of The Recommended Dose kicks off with the British Medical Journal’s erudite and exceptional editor, Dr  Fiona Godlee. In a wide-ranging and candid interview, she chats to Ray about the BMJ's ongoing and often controversial campaigns to change medicine - and broader society - for the better. She looks to a future that addresses the distorting influence of industry funding on health evidence and outcomes.

‘In an ideal world - and it's a world we’d like to be moving towards - we wouldn't have this irreducible conflict of interest in research that is affecting people's health,’Dr Godlee tells The Recommended Dose. ‘People who dream of a better future say, well why couldn't we have a pot into which industry, if they want to market their drugs or license them, put a proportion of their profits and that money would be used to evaluate their drugs in an independent and transparent way.’

Alongside her professional views, she lets Ray and the podcast listeners in on what drives and inspires her to achieve so much in her influential role at the helm of one of the world's oldest, most popular and prestigious medical science journals.

‘Having spent almost 20 years in investigative journalism and more recently inside the world of academic research, it’s very exciting for me to be able to share these compelling conversations exploring the critical questions and controversies in health today, alongside the personal stories of some particularly extraordinary people,’Ray  says. ‘We’re hoping this new look behind the scenes will open the world of evidence up to everyone and encourage a more questioning approach to health – whether you’re a journalist, health professional or more especially if you’re not a health insider at all.’

Later episodes of The Recommended Dose feature one of the worlds highest profile psychiatrists, Dr Allen Frances who shares his thoughts on his now infamous statement that ‘Trump isn’t mad, we are’, which made global headlines in recent months.

Another notable guest also often in the headlines is Professor Lisa Bero, whose nutrition research was discovered to be secretly monitored by Coca-Cola. Leading South African researcher Professor Jimmy Volmink and well-known Australian Professor ofEvidence BasedMedicine Paul Glasziou are among others who join Ray for engaging, informative and thought-provoking podcasts later in the series.

With all the endless talk of fake news, The Recommended Dose will be a welcome player on the podcast scene.For more details or to listen visit australia.cochrane.org/trd or find the first episodes on iTunes, Soundcloud or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Thursday, October 19, 2017