Ključne poruke

Zbog vrlo niske razine pouzdanosti dokaza nije sigurno postoji li razlika između ova dva lijeka u pogledu koristi liječenja.

Olanzapin može imati male prednosti u pogledu poboljšanja općeg mentalnog stanja (ponašanja, raspoloženja, misli, percepcije, i sl.) te određene prednosti u pogledu kvalitete života.

Veća je vjerojatnost da će osobe koje uzimaju olanzapin dobiti na težini, dok je vjerojatnije da će osobe koje uzimaju haloperidol razviti poremećaje pokreta. Osobe koje uzimaju haloperidol češće prestaju uzimati propisani lijek.

Pri odabiru između haloperidola i olanzapina potrebno je uzeti u obzir osobne preferencije, karakteristike osobe poput sklonosti povećanju ili gubitku tjelesne težine te prethodno iskustvo s lijekovima.

Uvod

Osobe sa shizofrenijom često čuju glasove, vide stvari koje drugi ne vide i imaju uvjerenja koja drugi ne dijele. Također se mogu osjećati vrlo umorno, pokazivati manjak interesa i mogu imati poteškoće s izražavanjem emocija. Ovaj sustavni pregled je važan jer je shizofrenija teško stanje mentalnog zdravlja, s otprilike 1% šanse da će se dijagnosticirati tijekom života osobe.

Dosadašnje spoznaje

Haloperidol se desetljećima primjenjuje u liječenju shizofrenije. I dalje je jedan od najčešće propisivanih lijekova i ima dobro utvrđene koristi. Također ima neke nuspojave, poput nemira, nekontroliranog drhtanja, tremora i ukočenosti, osobito pri visokim dozama. Olanzapin je noviji lijek. Također se pokazao korisnim u liječenju shizofrenije, iako ima svoje nuspojave, među kojima je porast tjelesne težine najčešća. Željele su se bolje razumjeti razlike u kliničkim koristima ovih lijekova te utvrditi koji je prikladniji za primjenu u zemljama s nižim prihodima, kao i tijekom humanitarnih kriznih situacija.

Što je proučavano u ovom sustavnom pregledu?

Je li haloperidol bolji od olanzapina u liječenju shizofrenije ili poremećaja iz spektra shizofrenije?

Kako je proveden ovaj sustavni pregled?

Pretražena su randomizirana klinička ispitivanja koja su provedena do 14. siječnja 2023. Pretražena su istraživanja koja su nasumično raspoređivala osobe sa shizofrenijom i poremećajima iz spektra shizofrenije da primaju haloperidol ili olanzapin u obliku tableta. U ovaj sustavni pregled uključeno je 68 istraživanja s ukupno 9132 ispitanika.

Ključni rezultati

Prema rezultatima ovog sustavnog pregleda, nije sigurno postoji li razlika između ova dva lijeka u pogledu klinički značajne promjene i recidiva bolesti. Olanzapin može dovesti do nešto većeg poboljšanja mentalnog stanja (općeg psihičkog stanja poput ponašanja, raspoloženja, razmišljanja, percepcije i sl.) te može rezultirati određenim poboljšanjem kvalitete života. Prema drugim pokazateljima, haloperidol i olanzapin bili su slični u pogledu koristi liječenja. Oba su lijeka imala nuspojave: ispitanici koji su uzimali haloperidol češće su imali poremećaje pokreta od onih koji su uzimali olanzapin, dok su oni koji su uzimali olanzapin češće dobivali na tjelesnoj težini. Treba napomenuti da postoji značajna razlika između nekih istraživanja. Također, veći je broj ispitanika koji su primali haloperidol prerano napustio istraživanja zbog nuspojava. Nema dovoljno podataka za jasno objašnjenje ovog nalaza, no pretpostavlja se da bi to moglo biti povezano s uporabom viših ekvivalentnih doza haloperidola u usporedbi s olanzapinom u nekim istraživanjima.

Ograničenja ovog pregleda

Buduća istraživanja trebala bi obuhvatiti ishode koji su važni za osobe sa shizofrenijom i njihove obitelji. Većina istraživanja se usredotočila na koristi tijekom prve godine primjene i nije uzela u obzir druge čimbenike koji bi mogli biti važni osobama s iskustvom shizofrenije, kao što su radna sposobnost, utjecaj na obitelj, društveno funkcioniranje i prihvatljivost liječenja. Iako su neka istraživanja mjerila recidiv kao ishod, definicija recidiva nije uvijek bila jasna u tome je li recidiv doveo do hospitalizacije osobe. Ova su saznanja važna za osobe sa shizofrenijom i njihove obitelji jer recidiv i hospitalizacija predstavljaju ozbiljna i značajna nazadovanja u liječenju.

Važno je napomenuti da mnoga istraživanja nisu koristila ekvivalentne doze dvaju lijekova pri njihovoj usporedbi. Većina istraživanja primjenjivala je relativno više doze haloperidola u usporedbi s olanzapinom, što bi moglo biti povezano s većim brojem nuspojava i povezanih kliničkih ishoda kod osoba koje su primale haloperidol u tim istraživanjima.

Važno je imati na umu da je, prema pažljivoj analizi, razina pouzdanosti u glavne nalaze niska ili vrlo niska jer su uključena istraživanja imala određene slabosti.

Datum pretraživanja dokaza

U ovaj su sustavni pregled uključeni dokazi objavljeni do 14. siječnja 2023. godine.

Ključne poruke

• U usporedbi s placebom, inhibitori tumorskog faktora nekroze (TNFi) mogu dovesti do toga da se mlade osobe s juvenilnim idiopatskim artritisom (JIA) općenito bolje osjećaju, ali učinci tih lijekova na funkciju zglobova, bol, kontrolu bolesti i štetne učinke nisu sigurni.

• Nije sigurno koje su koristi i štetni učinci TNFi lijekova u usporedbi s drugim lijekom naziva metotreksat.

• Potrebno je više visokokvalitetnih istraživanja kako bi se bolje razumjele koristi i štetni učinci TNFi lijekova u liječenju JIA.

Uvod

JIA je bolest koja uzrokuje bol, oticanje i smanjenu pokretljivost zglobova kod mladih ljudi. Nastaje kao posljedica cjeloživotne upale nepoznatog uzroka i može zahvatiti druge dijelove tijela, poput očiju. Pogađa osobe mlađe od 16 godina, koje smatraju da im ovo stanje otežava svakodnevni život.

Dosadašnje spoznaje

JIA se liječi:

• fizikalnom terapijom: posebne vježbe koje pomažu boljem radu zglobova;

• lijekovima: uključuju steroidne i nesteroidne protuupalne lijekove (NSAID), lijekove koji suzbijaju imunološki sustav, poput metotreksata i TNFi lijekova, te druge lijekove koji ciljano djeluju na uzroke upale. Obično se započinje s blažim lijekovima, a po potrebi prelazi na jače.

Zašto se koristi TNFi u liječenju JIA?

TNFi lijekovi se primjenjuju kada konvencionalni lijekovi za artritis ne djeluju dobro ili uzrokuju previše nuspojava. TNFi lijekovi ciljano djeluju na imunološki sustav kako bi pomogli u suzbijanju bolesti.

Što je proučavano u ovom sustavnom pregledu?

Proučavano je jesu li TNFi lijekovi učinkoviti i sigurni za osobe s JIA-om u usporedbi s placebom (lažnim liječenjem koji ne sadrži lijek, ali je izgledom identično lijeku koji se ispituje), NSAID-ovima, drugim konvencionalnim lijekovima za artritis ili drugim TNFi lijekovima.

Kako je proveden ovaj sustavni pregled?

Pretražena su istraživanja koja su uspoređivala TNFi lijekove s placebom, drugim lijekovima za artritis ili drugim TNFi lijekovima. Rezultati su uspoređeni i sažeti te je procijenjena razina pouzdanosti dokaza na temelju čimbenika kao što su način provođenja istraživanja i broj uključenih ispitanika.

Rezultati

Pronađeno je 9 istraživanja koja su uključivala ukupno 678 osoba s JIA-om. Njihova dob je bila u rasponu od 8 do 15 godina, a 80% su bile djevojčice. Prosječno trajanje simptoma kretalo se od 0,8 do 6,7 godina. Istraživanja su provedena u različitim zemljama i trajala su između 12 i 54 tjedna. Sedam istraživanja je uspoređivalo TNFi s placebom, a dva su istraživanja uspoređivala TNFi s metotreksatom. Nijedno istraživanje nije uspoređivalo TNFi s NSAID lijekovima ili drugim lijekovima osim metotreksata.

Ključni rezultati

Nakon 16 tjedana, 14% osoba koje su primale placebo i 34% osoba koje su primale TNFi su pokazala poboljšanje u simptomima JIA-a.

Nakon 16 tjedana, bol (na ljestvici od 0 do 100, pri čemu niži rezultati ukazuju na manju bol) je ocijenjena s 33 boda kod osoba koje su primale placebo i 11 bodova kod osoba koje su primale TNFi.

Funkcija, mjerena na ljestvici od 0 do 3 (niži rezultati ukazuju na bolju funkciju), ocijenjena je kao 1 bod kod osoba koje su primale placebo i 0,84 boda kod osoba koje su primale TNFi.

Nakon 16 tjedana, globalna procjena aktivnosti bolesti prema ispitanicima (ljestvica od 0 do 100, pri čemu niži rezultati označavaju manju aktivnost bolesti) iznosila je 34 boda kod osoba koje su primale placebo i 23 boda kod osoba koje su primale TNFi.

Do odustajanja zbog štetnih učinaka je došlo kod 1% osoba koje su primale placebo i kod 3% osoba koje su primale TNFi.

Ozbiljni štetni učinci prijavljeni su kod 6% onih koji su primali placebo i kod 7% onih koji su primali TNFi.

Nisu pronađeni podatci o učinku TNFi lijekova na remisiju bolesti do 16 tjedana.

Ograničenja ovog pregleda

Razina pouzdanosti u dokaze je niska zbog ograničenog broja dostupnih istraživanja i zato što je moguće da su ispitanici znali koji su tretman primili, što je moglo utjecati na rezultate.

Datum pretraživanja dokaza

U ovaj sustavni pregled uključeni su dokazi objavljeni do 28. veljače 2024. godine.

Ključne poruke

- Nije jasno sprječava li liječenje kortikosteroidima (steroidima) ili drugim imunosupresivima oštećenje bubrega u djece s IgA nefropatijom.

- Istraživanja uključena u ovaj sustavni pregled nisu pružila informacije o rizicima terapije steroidima u djece s IgA nefropatijom.

Uvod

IgA nefropatija je bolest bubrega koja može uzrokovati smanjenje funkcije i zatajenje bubrega. Uzrok bolesti nije poznat, ali je poznato da ulogu ima imunološki sustav te je liječenje usmjereno na imunološki sustav. Ne postoji lijek za IgA nefropatiju i ona zahtijeva doživotno praćenje. Malo je smjernica za liječenje djece s IgA nefropatijom pa se djeca liječe na isti način kao i odrasle osobe.

Što je proučavano u ovom sustavnom pregledu?

Željelo se saznati poboljšava li imunosupresivna terapija funkciju bubrega u djece s IgA nefropatijom.

Kako je proveden ovaj sustavni pregled?

Pretražena su randomizirana i nerandomizirana istraživanja koja su procjenjivala koristi i štetne učinke imunosupresivne terapije u djece s IgA nefropatijom. Rezultati su uspoređeni i sažeti te je procijenjena razina pouzdanosti dokaza na temelju čimbenika kao što su način provođenja istraživanja i broj uključenih ispitanika.

Ključni rezultati

U ovaj je sustavni pregled uključeno 13 istraživanja koja su obuhvatila 686 ispitanika (495 djece) i koja su procjenjivala učinke imunosupresivne terapije u djece s IgA nefropatijom. Deset je istraživanja bilo randomizirano, a u tri nerandomizirana istraživanja ispitanici su bili raspoređeni u skupine prema težini bolesti. Nije pronađeno dovoljno dokaza o koristi primjene samih steroida ili steroida u kombinaciji s drugim imunosupresivima u očuvanju funkcije bubrega. Razina dokaza bila je vrlo niska zbog malog broja pronađenih istraživanja i malog broja uključene djece.

Nije bilo moguće procijeniti nuspojave steroida jer ih istraživanja nisu sustavno pratila niti ih prijavljivala.

Zbog maloga broja istraživanja nije bilo moguće utvrditi ulogu drugih imunosupresivnih terapija, ribljeg ulja, vitamina E ili tonzilektomije u smanjenju oštećenja bubrega u djece s IgA nefropatijom.

Ograničenja ovog pregleda

Ograničenja ovog sustavnog pregleda su mali broj istraživanja (po usporedbi) te mali broj uključenih ispitanika. Nisu sva istraživanja pružila informacije o ishodima od interesa. Razina pouzdanosti dokaza je niska.

Datum pretraživanja dokaza

U ovaj su sustavni pregled uključeni dokazi objavljeni do listopada 2023. godine.

Ključne poruke

- Liječenje inhibitorima natrij-glukoza kotransportera 2 (SGLT2) smanjuje rizik od smrti i problema s bubrezima kod osoba s kroničnom bubrežnom bolešću i dijabetesom.

- Nije poznato jesu li SGLT2 inhibitori bolji od drugih lijekova za dijabetes jer nije provedeno dovoljno kliničkih istraživanja koja bi ih izravno uspoređivala.

Uvod

Dijabetes je česta bolest uzrokovana smanjenom aktivnošću inzulina (hormona koji kontrolira razinu glukoze u krvi) i povećanom otpornošću na inzulin. Dijabetes smanjuje kvalitetu života povezanu sa zdravljem te dovodi do srčanog udara, moždanog udara, amputacije udova, smrti i depresije u ranoj dobi, osobito kod osoba s kroničnom bubrežnom bolešću. SGLT2 inhibitori se trenutačno koriste za liječenje osoba s kroničnom bubrežnom bolešću i dijabetesom. Pojavljuju se nova istraživanja, a kombiniranje rezultata tih ispitivanja ključno je za najnovije razumijevanje sigurnosti i koristi tih lijekova u usporedbi s drugim oblicima liječenja.

Što je proučavano u ovom sustavnom pregledu?

Željelo se saznati sprječavaju li lijekovi iz skupine SGLT2 inhibitora komplikacije povezane s dijabetesom kod odraslih i djece koji imaju kroničnu bolest bubrega (smanjena funkcija bubrega) i dijabetes.

Kako je proveden ovaj sustavni pregled?

Pretražena su sva ispitivanja koja su procjenjivala koristi i štetne učinke nasumične dodjele SGLT2 inhibitora osobama s kroničnom bolešću bubrega i dijabetesom. Rezultati su uspoređeni i sažeti te je procijenjena razina pouzdanosti dokaza na temelju čimbenika kao što su način provođenja istraživanja i broj uključenih ispitanika.

Ključni rezultati

U ovaj su sustavni pregled uključena 53 klinička istraživanja koja su obuhvatila 65 241 odraslu osobu s kroničnom bubrežnom bolešću i dijabetesom. Ispitanici u istraživanjima primali su SGLT2 inhibitor, šećernu tabletu (placebo), samo standardnu skrb ili neki drugi lijek za dijabetes (npr. metformin ili inzulin). Dodjela liječenja određivana je nasumično (poput bacanja novčića). Nisu provedena istraživanja na djeci.

Kombiniranjem svih istraživanja utvrđeno je da liječenje SGLT2 inhibitorima smanjuje rizik od smrti, uključujući smrt izravno uzrokovanu srčanim problemom ili moždanim udarom. Također je utvrđeno da SGLT2 inhibitori smanjuju rizik od zatajenja bubrega, što znači da je manjem broju osoba na ovom liječenju bila potrebna dijaliza ili transplantacija bubrega. Učinci na sprječavanje srčanog ili moždanog udara nisu jasni. Nije jasno je li liječenje SGLT2 inhibitorima bolje ili lošije od drugih oblika liječenja dijabetesa jer postoji malo podataka koji izravno uspoređuju ove lijekove s drugim lijekovima za dijabetes u kliničkim ispitivanjima.

Ograničenja ovog pregleda

Neka istraživanja nisu jasno navela koliko je osoba imalo kroničnu bolest bubrega pa se dio podataka nije mogao uključiti. Nuspojave su rijetko i nedosljedno prijavljivane pa postoji nesigurnost u vezi s tim ishodima. Iako su u ovaj sustavni pregled uključena istraživanja na osobama s dijabetesom tipa 1, nije bilo dostupno dovoljno podataka da bi se ispravno procijenili učinci SGLT2 inhibitora kod tih osoba.

Datum pretraživanja dokaza

U ovaj su sustavni pregled uključeni dokazi objavljeni do studenog 2023. godine.

Ključne poruke

• Nije poznato kada je najbolje vrijeme za početak primanja alogene transfuzije krvi (pri čemu se krv davatelja ubrizgava u krvotok žene kroz venu) kako bi se smanjile komplikacije zbog prekomjernog gubitka krvi unutar 24 sata od poroda (postporođajno krvarenje).

• Učinak krvnih pripravaka (tvari proizvedenih iz pune krvi) na smanjenje komplikacija postporođajnog krvarenja, bilo umjesto transfuzije pune krvi ili uz nju, u velikoj je mjeri neizvjestan.

Uvod

Postporođajno krvarenje obilno je krvarenje nakon poroda. Obično se definira kao gubitak krvi od 500 mL ili više unutar 24 sata od poroda. To je jedan od vodećih uzroka smrti majki u svijetu.

Dosadašnje spoznaje

Trenutačno ne postoje smjernice o tome kako treba liječiti postporođajno krvarenje, ali se transfuzije pune krvi ili njezinih dijelova (koji se nazivaju krvni pripravci, poput svježe smrznute plazme koja se dobiva iz tekućeg dijela krvi) mogu upotrebljavati za liječenje postporođajnog krvarenja i sprječavanje komplikacija kod žena koje aktivno krvare.

Što je proučavano u ovom sustavnom pregledu?

Željelo se saznati koje su koristi i štetni učinci različitih transfuzijskih postupaka za liječenje postporođajnog krvarenja, koje bi žene trebale početi primati transfuziju krvi i kada te koji su krvni pripravci, sami ili u kombinaciji, najbolji.

Kako je proveden ovaj sustavni pregled?

Pretražena su istraživanja koja su procjenjivala koristi i štetne učinke transfuzije krvi za liječenje postporođajnog krvarenja. Rezultati su uspoređeni i sažeti te je procijenjena razina pouzdanosti dokaza na temelju čimbenika kao što su način provođenja istraživanja i broj uključenih ispitanika.

Ključni rezultati

U ovaj je sustavni pregled uključeno 12 istraživanja s ukupno 17 868 žena. U osam istraživanja podatci su mogli biti korišteni, dok su četiri imala probleme s ustrojem istraživanja.

Nije pronađeno dovoljno dokaza o tome kada započeti transfuziju krvi ni smanjuje li primjena krvnih pripravaka umjesto transfuzije pune krvi, ili uz nju, komplikacije postporođajnog krvarenja. Razina pouzdanosti u rezultate bila je vrlo niska. Na to je utjecalo nekoliko čimbenika. U mnogim istraživanjima žene nisu bile nasumično raspoređene u različite skupine za liječenje. To znači da su razlike između skupina mogle biti posljedica razlika između žena, a ne između načina liječenja. Iako su neka istraživanja nasumično raspoređivala žene u skupine za liječenje, postojala je zabrinutost u vezi s načinom na koji je to učinjeno. Nekoliko je istraživanja uključivalo mali broj ispitanika, a rezultati su varirali.

Ograničenja ovog pregleda?

Zbog niske pouzdanosti dokaza nije bilo moguće s pouzdanošću donijeti zaključke o koristima i štetnim učincima transfuzije krvi za liječenje postporođajnog krvarenja.

Datum pretraživanja dokaza

U ovaj su sustavni pregled uključeni dokazi objavljeni do 18. srpnja 2024. godine.

Title: Cochrane Support Officer
Specifications: Permanent - Full time (37.5 hours)
Salary:  £30,000 per annum 
Location: Remote - Ideally based in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Publishing and Technology directorate
Closing date: 18 June 2025

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 synthesizing research findings and our work has been recognized 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 four directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Cochrane Support team is the first point of contact for the international Cochrane community. We provide technical and user support to Cochrane editorial teams and review authors; and handle enquiries from members of the public about Cochrane’s work.

We pride ourselves on our timely and coordinated support service, covering a broad range of areas including Cochrane editorial processing and publication, review-writing software, Cochrane Account login, membership, training, and volunteering opportunities. The team is progressively taking on additional IT services tasks.     

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 everting 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 
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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 how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 18 June 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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Thursday, June 12, 2025 Category: Jobs

Cochrane recently participated in the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), the world’s foremost global health policy event. Wrapping up this year, we're reflecting on a week of historic milestones and inspiring dialogue in a time where evidence and collaboration matter more than ever.

Held at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, the Health Assembly is the decision-making body for the World Health Organization (WHO), attended by representatives of all Member States, as well as NGOs and funding organizations. It is a key forum to advocate for evidence-informed health policies.

A historic resolution for evidence-based decision-making

This World Health Assembly marked the historic adoption of the resolution on strengthening national capacities in evidence-based decision-making for the uptake and impact of norms and standards. The resolution calls for the recognition of the value of high-quality synthesized evidence and the importance of supporting local priorities and foster strong leadership that’s based on science, evidence, and is human-centred. 

To support the adoption of the resolution, Karla Soares-Weiser, Cochrane’s Acting CEO, was invited to speak at a high-level panel discussion hosted by Ethiopia, China, Norway, the Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation. 

The event began with opening remarks from Director-General, WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Chief Scientist, WHO, Sir Jeremy Farrar, as well as Norway’s State Secretary for Health and diplomats from China and Ethiopia. This was followed by a panel discussion on what is needed to turn global evidence into local action for real-world impact.

Through our official relations status with WHO, we were given the privilege of making a statement at the Health Assembly in front of an audience of Member States and policymakers from across the world. We highlighted the importance of the resolution and affirmed our commitment to supporting colleagues at WHO, Member States, and stakeholders in the implementation of the resolution.

Engagement with our partners

To commemorate the occasion, Cochrane partnered with Devex to co-host the Devex Nightcap, and annual event where funders, implementers and journalists are invited to share a drink and discuss what is happening behind the scenes and what their priorities are. We used this opportunity to demonstrate Cochrane’s leadership in Global Health and had many informal conversations with key figures including Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General, WHO. 

As part of Cochrane Rehabilitation’s involvement with the World Rehabilitation Alliance — a WHO global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative through advocacy activities —  we engaged in multiple activities to demonstrate the role of rehabilitation as an essential health service that is integral to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. This included participating in a high-level side event hosted by the World Rehabilitation Alliance and Humanity and Inclusion and making a statement on the importance of including rehabilitation in non-communicable disease frameworks in front of Member States and policymakers. 

A new WHO action plan on climate change and health was also approved during the Health Assembly, marking an important step forward in global health and climate policy. The draft Global action plan 2025–2028 acknowledged the urgent need to address the health impacts of climate change, positioning health systems as part of the climate solution. Cochrane Planetary Health provided vital input drafting Cochrane’s statement on the importance of creating innovative methods for climate and health research, as well as and implementing evidence-based approaches. 

Get involved

If you would like to find out more about the resolution on evidence-based decision-making and how you can get involved, please get in touch with Mariam Salman, Advocacy Lead (msalman@cochrane.org). If you would like to find out more about our partnership with Devex during the World Health Assembly, please get in touch with Claudia Llado, Business Development Lead (cllado@cochrane.org). 

Monday, June 2, 2025

Title: Digital Marketing Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary: £38,000 per annum
Location: (Remote) resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Development and External Relations Directorate
Closing date: 16 May, 2025

The Digital Marketing Officer is an exciting new role that reflects the strategic importance of digital marketing to Cochrane, an internationally renowned charity providing high-quality health evidence.

You will support the organization’s digital marketing function, reporting to the Digital Marketing Manager. Together you will deliver high-quality, targeted digital marketing campaigns that inspire engagement and support from a range of audiences.

This role will support both brand marketing for diverse audiences and B2B/B2C marketing aimed primarily at universities and academics. Brand marketing will involve contributing to Cochrane’s social media accounts and email marketing, working closely with colleagues who manage the CRM (SugarCRM). Commercial marketing will include promoting academic conferences, on-demand training courses, and specialist software (SaaS).

Joining our team means becoming part of a mission to enhance global health through reliable, evidence-based practices. You'll collaborate with dedicated professionals and partners worldwide to ensure health decisions are informed by the best available data. Our core values — collaboration, relevance, integrity, and quality — guide all our actions. By joining us, you'll contribute to making a significant impact on health outcomes globally.

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.

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 how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 16 May, 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on w/c 26 May 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

 

Friday, May 9, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Internal Communications Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £36,000 per annum 
Location: Remote - Resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Development and External Relations Directorate
Closing date: 16 May 2025

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 synthesizing research findings and our work has been recognized as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane is now recruiting for a full time Internal Communications Officer. The successful applicant will play an important role in keeping our staff informed, connected and engaged. The Internal Communications Officer will create content and manage channels to communicate with staff, while developing and trialing new ways of doing so. 

The Internal Communications Officer will make sure that everyone at Cochrane knows what's going on, feels part of a bigger team and understands how their work fits into Cochrane’s strategic goals. By coming up with clear plans for sharing information, they will also help staff feel motivated and included in our positive and collaborative global team.  

The successful applicant will also spend time listening to colleagues, looking at ways to improve our staff communications and working with different departments to make sure their messages are clear and easy to understand. 

The overall goal of this role is to help Cochrane stay connected as an organization where people feel valued and informed. 

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 everting 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 rigor 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 how to apply, please click here. 
• The deadline to receive your application is 16 May 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held w/c 26 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Head of Technology
Specifications: 6 months – Fixed term contract – Full time
Salary: £63,000 per annum (will be pro-rated for the 6-month contract)
Location: Remote (hybrid if based in Copenhagen) - Resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark
Directorate: Publishing and Technology Directorate
Closing date: 14 May 2025

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 four directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Head of Technology will be overseeing systems architecture, software development, and IT operations for Cochrane. You will manage Cochrane’s systems administration and software development teams (9 persons), as well as outsourced development, and align their efforts to meet Cochrane’s operational needs and strategic goals. You will collaborate with teams across the organization and advocate for agile ways of working and sustainable IT solutions. You will bridge the gap between technical teams and executive leadership.

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 everting 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 how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 14 May 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held w/c 26 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Thursday, May 1, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Cochrane Support Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Part Time (0.6 FTE, 22.5 hours)
Salary:  £30,000 per annum (will be pro-rated)
Location: Remote - Ideally based in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Publishing and Technology Directorate
Closing date: 14 May 2025

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 four   directorates: Evidence Production and Methods, Publishing and Technology, Development, and Finance and Corporate Services.

The Cochrane Support team is the first point of contact for the international Cochrane community. We provide technical and user support to Cochrane editorial teams and review authors; and handle enquiries from members of the public about Cochrane’s work.

We pride ourselves on our timely and coordinated support service, covering a broad range of areas including Cochrane editorial processing and publication, review-writing software, Cochrane Account login, membership, training, and volunteering opportunities. The team is progressively taking on additional IT services tasks.     

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 everting 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 how to apply, please click here
• The deadline to receive your application is 14 May 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held w/c 26 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Thursday, May 1, 2025 Category: Jobs

Title: Quality Assurance Editor
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary: £35,000 - £43,000 per annum
Location: (Remote) Resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Evidence Production and Methods Directorate
Closing date: 6 May, 2025

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 synthesizing research findings and our work has been recognized as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

As Quality Assurance Editor within Cochrane’s Editorial Department, you will assess whether protocols, reviews and updates submitted to Cochrane’s Central Editorial Service have met Cochrane’s methodological standards. You will recommend editorial decisions based on the quality of the methods in the articles submitted, provide feedback to authors on their articles, and support members of the Central Editorial Service with methods queries.  

The post holder will identify common methodological issues identified during methods assessments, and will recommend and support improvements to Cochrane’s guidance and training for authors and groups. 

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 everting 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.

Cochrane has offices with payroll in the UK, Germany and Denmark. 

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 6 May, 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on 15 and 16 May, 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement.
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

Thursday, April 24, 2025 Category: Jobs

A newly-published Cochrane review reveals significant gaps in the clinical rating scales used to assess pain in newborn babies, highlighting the urgent need for improved tools and global collaboration.

Despite the critical importance of accurately measuring pain in newborns, the review found that none of the available scales are backed by the high-quality evidence and methodological safeguards required to confirm their validity and reliability in clinical practice.

Neonatal pain assessment and management presents a challenge for clinical staff worldwide. Over 40 rating scales have been developed and adapted worldwide assessing different parameters and various types of pain.

Six to nine percent of all newborns require admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to either illness of prematurity. These infants endure multiple painful procedures daily, which can lead to long-term negative effects. Due to this, valid tools to support the assessment of pain are of great importance.

Infant pain scales lack robust evidence

The Cochrane review analysed 79 studies involving over 7,000 infants across 26 countries, evaluating 27 different clinical rating scales. All rating scales were found to be supported by very low-quality evidence, indicating major limitations in their effectiveness and clinical applicability.

“Over 70% of rating scales in this review did not assess content and structural validity, and both these factors are essential when selecting a measurement instrument,” says Kenneth Färnqvist, physiotherapist and PhD candidate at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. “Without a strong foundation in these areas, other necessary measures, such as reliability, cannot be accurately evaluated. Future studies must prioritise rigorous validation to improve neonatal pain assessment.” 

Measuring pain in newborns is particularly complex compared to adults. Such limitations may lead to an over- or under-estimation of pain, resulting in unnecessary sedation or inadequately treated pain, potentially jeopardising infant safety through treatment side-effects, including withdrawal symptoms or prolonged discomfort. Premature infants further complicate matters, as they often have a reduced ability to display robust pain behaviour due to their immaturity. The same is also true for ill or sedated infants.

“It is important to remember that clinical rating scales are only surrogates for pain measurement,” says Roger F. Soll, Professor of Neonatology at the University of Vermont. “Given the uncertainty highlighted in this review, clinical staff should avoid relying too heavily on the rating scales currently in practice and instead strive to decrease painful procedures as much as possible in this vulnerable population.” 

Global collaboration needed to improve infant pain assessment

Despite the disappointing results, this review presents an opportunity for progress in neonatal pain assessment, particularly through global collaboration and innovation.

Emma Persad, doctor and PhD candidate at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at the Karolinska Institutet, sees this as an opportunity for global collaboration and a call to action. 

“This is our chance to unite medical professionals and methodologists in developing a rigorously validated scale from scratch, one that meets all necessary checks before implementation in research and practice,” Emma says. “We look forward to beginning this impactful work and the implications it will have on assessing and managing neonatal pain worldwide.” 

Are you interested in getting involved or staying updated on the progress?

As per the findings of this 2025 review, Clinical rating scales for assessing pain in newborn infants, we would like to proactively respond to these findings by convening medical professionals and methodologists worldwide to work together to develop a more rigorous and evidence-based pain scale. 

If you're interested in getting involved, or staying up-to-date on the progress being made, please fill out the following form. For more information, contact Mia Parkinson.

• Read the Cochrane review and the plain language summary

 

Friday, April 11, 2025

Role: Business Analyst
Location: Remote working (resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark). 
Specifications: 6 months Fixed term contract.
Hours: Full-time week (flexible working considered) – 37.5 hours.
Salary: £42,000 per annum.
Application Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd April 2025 (Midnight GMT).

As a Business Analyst, you will gather, validate, and document business requirements using workshops, user research, use cases, and task and workflow analysis. You will ensure requirements are sufficiently detailed, reviewed, signed off, and kept up-to-date and are fully traceable. You will create and manage functional specifications, and contribute to identifying and validating appropriate solutions to support business objectives.

You will act as a key liaison between relevant stakeholders and departments, and product and software development teams to ensure feature implementation goals are met. 

You will be proactive, approachable, and curious. You will demonstrate an aptitude for user-centric, data-informed problem solving. As well as being a skillful communicator, you will be able to engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders across all levels. You will be driven to provide value and deliver demonstrable impact.

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 recognized as the international gold standard for high quality, trusted information. 

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 23 April, 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on w/c 28 April 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits

 

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Category: Jobs

Cochrane will no longer use the term ‘consumer’ to represent patients and the public, which we previously defined as ‘healthcare consumers’.  We have adopted the term ‘patient and public involvement’ to describe research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public, rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. 

Represented groups include patients and potential patients, carers, people who use health and social care services, and people or organizations that represent these groups. 

Patient and public involvement helps to make our research ethical, relevant, and impactful. Insights from members of the public can shape meaningful research questions and produce useful findings. People living with a health condition are often in a better position to identify unanswered questions and determine what research would most likely improve their quality of life. 

Involving patients and members of the public also improves transparency, informed consent, ensures respectful and practical participation, and enhances communication by presenting information in accessible and useful formats. Ultimately, it helps research to better serve the needs of patients and the public. 

“Involving patients and members of the public has long been an important part of Cochrane’s work,” says Karla Soares-Weiser, Acting Chief Executive of Cochrane. “It ensures that our reviews are not only scientifically rigorous, but also meaningful and relevant to the people they aim to serve. We hope that this name change makes clear that anyone can contribute to Cochrane, and we welcome diverse experiences from patients and members of the public across the world.”  

Anyone who would like to get involved in Cochrane’s work can volunteer through our website or join the Patient and Public Network to receive monthly updates and opportunities to get involved. 

Jack Nunn, Co-Chair of the Cochrane Patient and Public Network Executive, said: 

"Cochrane started as a collaboration for everyone over 30 years ago. Language evolves, and choosing the right words is essential. Cochrane's change to using 'patient and public involvement' reflects a global shift and shows they have listened to the many voices from around the world who felt 'consumer' was no longer the right word. By saying 'patient and public involvement', more people are likely to understand the important and essential concepts behind those words — and the actions to which they point, which is involving everyone in shaping the future of evidence."

Cochrane acknowledges that many different terminologies are used across global health. We are committed to revisiting these terminologies regularly and collaboratively updating them as they evolve, ensuring that concepts not only translate across languages but also align with local contexts. 

Using language that better reflects the values of the people who support and use Cochrane evidence has the potential to improve inclusivity, foster a sense of belonging, build relationships, and strengthen trust with diverse communities including underrepresented groups.  

Our Patient and Public Involvement Manager, April English, will be updating Cochrane materials to reflect the new language over the coming months. 

• Join the Patient and Public Network here

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Monday 7 April marks World Health Day, a day organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to highlight a particular global health issue. This year, it aims to kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health.

Maternal, newborn, and child health is a major global health priority, and yet in many parts of the world there are still far too many preventable deaths among mothers and young children. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that close to 300,000 women die during and following childbirth each year. Around 95% of those deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, in one of the starkest demonstrations of global health inequities. Postpartum haemorrhage alone accounts for over a quarter of maternal deaths each year, a number that emphasises the urgent need for evidence-based interventions.

Maternal, newborn, and child health: one of the four pillars

At Cochrane, our vision is a healthier world for everyone where health and care decisions are informed by high-quality evidence.

Cochrane has a long and proud history of advancing maternal, newborn, and child health. Much of our early work focused on evaluating evidence-based strategies to prevent illness and death among expectant mothers and babies, shaping international guidelines on labour induction and postnatal care. We have also contributed to landmark reviews, including one on the benefits of steroid injections for women at risk of preterm birth, research that even inspired the Cochrane logo.

With maternal, child and newborn health being one of the strategic pillars in our scientific strategy, we remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and children worldwide and tackling the vast health equity gap between different populations. We will assess strategies aimed at preventing illnesses and deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, enhance prevention and treatment for diseases in babies and children, and help improve sexual health and fertility services.

What are we doing?

Cochrane has a strong track record in maternal, newborn, and child health, with over 220 reviews informing WHO recommendations in this area.

Last year we collaborated with the WHO on a suite of 14 rapid reviews to improve the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. This work is part of WHO’s four-point plan to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 (SDG 3.1). By fast-tracking evidence synthesis, Cochrane’s reviews will inform updated WHO guidelines, influencing maternal healthcare policies worldwide.

Beyond postpartum haemorrhage, Cochrane is evaluating interventions for maternal infections, pre-eclampsia prevention through calcium supplementation, diabetes management during pregnancy, and clinical management of caesarean sections. These areas are critical for improving maternal health outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings.

“High-quality evidence is essential for improving maternal and newborn health worldwide. Through Cochrane’s scientific strategy, we address critical global health needs and pressing research questions,” explains Roses Parker, Commissioning Editor at Cochrane. “We collaborate with decision-makers to ensure they have access to the best available evidence for policy and practice. Currently, we are focusing on a suite of reviews on diagnosing and managing gestational diabetes and partnering with Cochrane India to develop an evidence gap map to guide future work on neonatal mortality.” 

The need for evidence-based policy

The leading causes of maternal, neonatal, and child mortality are largely known, preventable, and treatable through strategic, population-based healthcare policies. Despite this, inequalities due to income, education, gender, race and/or ethnicity limit access to care, further marginalising these vulnerable populations. Recognising this disproportionate burden in LMICs, Cochrane is prioritising capacity building and evidence co-production in these regions.

Cochrane remains committed to working alongside the WHO, governments, and health systems to turn high-quality research into life-saving policies. Strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health systems through evidence-based interventions is critical to achieving global health goals and ensuring health for all.

• Read more about World Health Day 2025
• Find out more about our scientific strategy

 

Monday, April 7, 2025

Title: Subscription Renewals Officer
Specifications: Permanent – Full time or Part Time (minimum 22.5 hours)
Salary: £35,000 per annum full time 
Location: (Remote) resident in the UK, Germany or Denmark. 
Directorate: Development and External Relations Directorate
Closing date: 15 April, 2025

The Subscription Renewals Officer role will work closely with the Business Development Manager to grow the organisation’s commercial services income. As SRO, you will be responsible for supporting customer satisfaction and maximising customer lifetime value through successful contract renewals.

Joining our team means becoming part of a mission to enhance global health through reliable, evidence-based practices. You'll collaborate with dedicated professionals and partners worldwide to ensure health decisions are informed by the best available data. Our core values — collaboration, relevance, integrity, and quality — guide all our actions. By joining us, you'll contribute to making a significant impact on health outcomes globally.

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.

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 how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 15 April, 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Interviews will be held on w/c 28 April 2025.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement.
• Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.

 

 

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 Category: Jobs

How accurate are Truenat assays for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance?

On World TB Day, we highlight findings from a new review assessing the accuracy of Truenat assays for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and rifampicin resistance in adults and adolescents.

TB remains a global health threat, with 10.8 million cases and 1.25 million deaths in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. The number of people with tuberculosis keeps increasing. Both false-positive results and false-negative results have a severe impact on individuals tested. It is crucial that there is early and accurate diagnosis to prevent the spread of TB and ensure timely treatment. 

This review included six studies with over 4000 participants, comparing Truenat assays to the WHO-recommended Xpert Ultra test. While Truenat MTB Plus showed promise, further research is needed to refine diagnostic tools, particularly for drug-resistant TB.

Key findings:

• Truenat MTB Plus was more accurate than Truenat MTB for detecting TB. However, Truenat MTB misidentified many people as having TB when they did not, raising concerns. 
•  Xpert Ultra was found to be more accurate than Truenat MTB.
• Evidence on Truenat’s accuracy for detecting rifampicin resistance was limited.

Read the full review here: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015543.pub2/full

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Catherine Spencer OBE, who served as the Cochrane Collaboration’s Chief Executive Officer since 2022, has decided to step down from the role.

Catherine has led Cochrane through transformational change, developing a new strategy for a more evidence-informed world and ensuring the organization is well-placed to deliver it. She has helped to cement Cochrane’s reputation as a world-leading source of trustworthy evidence and expand the charity’s reach and impact around the world.

“I have been so fortunate to work with incredibly talented and loyal colleagues, Board Members and community members,” said Catherine. “All have worked hard to ensure that Cochrane has a great future and is a wonderful environment in which to work and grow. I wish all the team well as they focus on the continued success of Cochrane.”

The Governing Board has appointed Dr Karla Soares-Weiser as Acting CEO while they prepare to recruit the next CEO. Cochrane’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Toby Lasserson, will serve as Acting Editor-in-Chief.

Dr Susan Phillips, Chair of Cochrane’s Governing Board, said:

“The Governing Board would like to thank Catherine for her valued contribution to Cochrane and Cochrane community. In her time as CEO, she has ensured that the organization has a warm and collaborative culture that fosters innovation and trust.

“We wish to acknowledge the important contribution Catherine has made towards stabilizing Cochrane’s operations, developing the 2024-2027 Organizational Strategy, supporting Cochrane’s transition to a centralized editorial service and implementing the Roadmap to Open Access.

“Consequently, Cochrane is in a strong position, and we anticipate building on these achievements. Our priorities will be to strengthen Cochrane’s evidence synthesis model, including our use of AI tools, and to develop business models and methods which make us more responsive to funders’ needs.”

Preparations to recruit the next CEO will be led by Cochrane’s Governing Board.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

March 2025 marks the third anniversary of Cochrane’s commitment to Public Involvement in Health and Social Care Research, a pledge launched in 2022. This commitment underscores Cochrane's ongoing efforts  to enhance its practice of public involvement, ensuring that the voices of the users of our evidence are at the heart of health and social care evidence.

Excellent public involvement is an essential part of health and social care research and improves the quality and impact of research. Excellent public involvement is inclusive, values all contributions, ensures people have a meaningful say in what happens, and influences outcomes, as set out in the UK Standards for Public Involvement.

Cochrane is proud to be one of the thirty two organizations in partnership on this important initiative. Together, partners connect during quarterly Learning and Sharing meetings to share best practices and new developments, amplifying excellent public involvement and maximising resources for optimised efforts and impact.

Reflecting on this milestone, April English, Cochrane’s Consumer Engagement Manager, states: “Our commitment to public involvement is key to advancing health and social care research and demonstrating our value for the invaluable contributions of patients and the public, ultimately improving the quality and impact of research.”

“People have the right to be involved in all health and social care research,” Ana Beatriz Pizarro, member of the Consumer Network Executive, reflects. “People’s lived experiences should be a key driver for health and social care research.”

Key Achievements and Initiatives

Over the past three years, Cochrane has taken significant steps to strengthen public involvement, including:

• Cochrane’s Consumer Network: In 2025, three new members joined the Consumer Network Executive, and as of January 2025, over 2,500 members have joined the Consumer Network. Both, strengthening the community of people interested in high-quality health evidence, and in helping to be a part of producing and sharing evidence.
• Reporting Consumer Involvement: Since 2024, all new Cochrane reviews must report on consumer involvement.
• Consumer Representation on Editorial Board: The Editorial Board is responsible for supporting Cochrane’s Editor in Chief and overseeing the production of Cochrane Reviews and other Cochrane Library content. The Editorial Board includes representation from the Consumer Network.
• Consumer Peer Review of Submitted Cochrane Reviews and Protocols: Recent consumer peer reviews include Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation, Interventions implemented through sporting organisations for promoting healthy behaviour or improving health outcomes, Prevention of self‐harm and suicide in young people up to the age of 25 in education settings, and Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries. 
• The Co-Production Methods Group: Launched in October 2023, this group advances research on co-production methods, shares best practices, and supports learning to help systematic review authors engage meaningfully with healthcare consumers.
• Evidence Essentials:  A free, online learning module co-produced by healthcare consumers, researchers, and Cochrane specialists, helping people understand health evidence and make informed health choices. In 2024, module six was launched on critical appraisal of rapid reviews.
• Learning Live Webinars:  A series of free webinars tailored for different audiences, including review authors and the public, providing guidance on engaging with Cochrane evidence and making research more accessible.

Cochrane’s Framework for Public Involvement

Cochrane’s framework for consumer engagement and involvement focuses on five key elements:

1. Engagement: Strengthening communication, evidence dissemination, recruitment, and learning opportunities for consumers.
2. Co-Production: Increasing consumer involvement in evidence production and governance to align research with user needs.
3. Accessibility: Enhancing health literacy and making Cochrane evidence easier to access and understand.
4. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with patient groups and other stakeholders to advance engagement, co-production, and advocacy efforts.
5. Evaluation and Reporting: Establishing key engagement and involvement metrics for evaluating and reporting the impact of Cochrane’s engagement and involvement activity. 
   
   
   

How to Get Involved?

There are many ways to play a part in health and social care research  at Cochrane.

Join Cochrane's Consumer Network, a large and growing community of people across the world. We welcome patients, carers and the public who are interested in getting involved in and sharing high-quality health evidence.

Cochrane Engage and Cochrane Crowd are always looking for volunteers to get involved with research.

• Learn more about Cochrane’s commitment to healthcare consumers
• Contact the Cochrane’s Consumer Engagement Manager or Cochrane’s Consumers Network Executive at consumers@cochrane.org 
  

 

Tuesday, March 11, 2025