Cochrane News
Call for proposals: AI tools to transform evidence synthesis
Global evidence highlights social roots of HPV vaccine hesitancy
How can public health professionals overcome vaccine hesitation?
Common gout drug may reduce risk of heart attack and stroke
Setting the standards for responsible AI use in evidence synthesis
GLP-1 drugs effective for weight loss, but more independent studies needed
What is Cochrane doing to strengthen research integrity?
How stakeholders can shape a review: the example of first aid training for laypeople
Strong evidence supports skin-to-skin contact after birth as standard care
Cochrane Methods Report 2025
World Evidence-based Healthcare Day promotes collaborative knowledge communication
Cochrane seeks Support Officer
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
- 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 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.
- 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 23 June, 2025.
- Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement
- Read our Candidate pack for more information on the hiring process and staff benefits.
Thursday, June 12, 2025 Category: Jobs
Cochrane at the 78th World Health Assembly
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-makingThis 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 partnersTo 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 involvedIf 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, 2025Cochrane seeks Digital Marketing Officer
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
Cochrane seeks Internal Communications Officer
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
Cochrane seeks Head of Technology
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
Cochrane seeks Cochrane Support Officer
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
Quality Assurance Editor
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
Weak evidence behind how we measure pain in babies
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 evidenceThe 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 assessmentDespite 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.
Friday, April 11, 2025