Cochrane's members and supporters come from more than 130 countries, worldwide. Our volunteers and contributors are researchers, health professionals, patients, carers, people passionate about improving health outcomes for everyone, everywhere.

Getting involved in Cochrane’s work means becoming part of a global community. The Cochrane International Mobility programme connects successful applicants with a placement in a host Cochrane Group, where they learn about the production, use, and knowledge translation of Cochrane reviews. The prgramme offers opportunities for learning and training not only for participants but also for host staff.

In this series, we profile those who have participated in the Cochrane International Mobility Program and learn more about their experiences.

Name: Milena
Location: Germany
CIM Location: Cochrane Sweden

How did you first learn about Cochrane? 
I first learned about Cochrane in my Bachelor studies back in Munich. In some of our research modules several lecturers mentioned systematic reviews by Cochrane having the highest level of evidence and being internationally renowned in research. In my Master studies it was mandatory to complete an internship and I wanted to take the opportunity to go abroad. Back in Germany, I worked in a research team at the 'Haunersche children's hospital'. My boss, who has completed a Cochrane course before, contacted Martin who forwarded contact to Matteo and introduced me to Cochrane Sweden and its department for Neonatology. 

What was your experience with your Cochrane International Mobility? 
Since my Bachelor studies, I've always been interested in the field of research and worked in several jobs regarding the health of children and adolescents. Conducting a systematic review in the field of Neonatology was one thing I was still missing. Cochrane has proved to be an outstanding place of internship: the content is high-quality, the communication runs smoothly and the supervision is excellent. I really liked working in such an international team.

What are you doing now in relation to your Cochrane International Mobility experience? 
Right now, we have just finished a Cochrane review about strategies for cessation of caffeine administration in preterm infants. Additionally, I am collaborating with other amazing teams in a review protocol regarding infant positioning as well as a methods paper about imputing risk ratio from rate data. Also, I am planning to remain a part of Cochrane. Back home, I will continue to support Matteo's team and several Cochrane projects. Cochrane's mobile way of working is just super flexible and works perfect for students from all over the world.

Do you have any words of advice to anyone considering a Cochrane International Mobility experience? 
If you're interested in research and how to perform a high-standard systematic review in practice, Cochrane is the perfect place for you. The intense exchange with international researchers, doctors, nurses, statisticians and students allows you to grow, personally as well as professionally. It will improve your English skills, your communication skills, and your knowledge about methodology in research a lot. I can deeply recommend working together with Cochrane!

Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £32,000 per Annum
Location: (Remote – Flexible) Candidates anywhere from the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries.
Closing date:  12 November 2023

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 Executive Assistant role will provide an efficient and responsive administrative, organisational, and logistical service to the Editor in Chief (EiC) and the leadership team of the Evidence Production & Methods Directorate (EPM). As well as support the operational activities of the directorate, including management of the Editorial Board.
      
Don’t have every single qualification? We know that some people are less likely to apply for a job unless they are a perfect match. At Cochrane, we’re not looking for “perfect matches.” We’re looking to welcome people to our diverse, inclusive, and passionate workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but don’t have every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. Whether it’s this role or another one, you may be just the right candidate.

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

You can expect:

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

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

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here.
• The deadline to receive your application is 12 November 2023.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

A new Cochrane review has found that insulin can be kept at room temperature for months without losing potency, offering hope to people living with diabetes in regions with limited access to healthcare or stable powered refrigeration. This affects millions of people living in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in rural areas, as well as people whose lives have been disrupted by conflict or natural disasters.

Human insulin is a hormone produced by the body that helps turn food into energy and controls blood sugar levels. People with diabetes cannot make enough insulin and those with type 1 diabetes have to inject insulin several times a day, typically before every meal. Insulin is an essential medicine for people with diabetes and current guidance states that before use it must be kept refrigerated to preserve its effectiveness.

For millions of people with diabetes living in low- and middle-income countries, however, the harsh reality is that electricity and refrigeration are luxuries that are unavailable to them. Vulnerable populations in war-torn areas, disaster-prone regions, and climate crisis-affected areas, including those enduring extreme heat, also need solutions that don’t rely on powered fridges.

The new Cochrane review summarizes results of different studies investigating what happens to insulin when stored outside of fridges, including previously unpublished data from manufacturers. The review found that it is possible to store unopened vials and cartridges of specific types of human insulin at temperatures of up to 25°C for a maximum of six months, and up to 37°C for a maximum of two months, without any clinically relevant loss of insulin activity. Data from one study showed no loss of insulin activity for specific insulin types when stored in oscillating ambient temperatures of between 25°C and 37°C for up to three months. This fluctuation resembles the day-night temperature cycles experienced in tropical countries.

The research team, led by Bernd Richter from the Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf, Germany, conducted comprehensive research to investigate insulin stability under various storage conditions. The review analyzed a total of seventeen studies, including laboratory investigations of insulin vials, cartridges/pens, and prefilled syringes, demonstrating consistent insulin potency at temperatures ranging from 4 °C to 37 °C, with no clinically relevant loss of insulin activity.

Bernd stressed the significance of this research, particularly for people living with type 1 diabetes, where "insulin is a lifeline, as their very lives depend on it. While type 2 diabetes presents its challenges, type 1 diabetes necessitates insulin for survival. This underscores the critical need for clear guidance for people with diabetes in critical life situations, which many individuals lack from official sources.

"Our study opens up new possibilities for individuals living in challenging environments, where access to refrigeration is limited. By understanding the thermal stability of insulin and exploring innovative storage solutions, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those who depend on insulin for their well-being."

These findings can help communities facing challenges in securing constant cold storage of insulin. They provide reassurance that alternatives to powered refrigeration of insulin are possible without compromising the stability of this essential medicine. It suggests that if reliable refrigeration is not possible, room temperature can be lowered using simple cooling devices such as clay pots for insulin storage.

The researchers have also identified uncertainties for future research to address. There remains a need to better understand insulin effectiveness following storage under varying conditions. Further research is also needed on mixed insulin, influence of motion for example when insulin pumps are used, contamination in opened vials and cartridges, and studies on cold environmental conditions.

• Read the full Cochrane review and plain language summary 
• Listen to the podcast where the lead author explains the evidence in under 7 minutes
• Read the Press release in Malay

Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £45,000 per Annum  
Location: (Remote – Flexible) Ideally based in the UK, Germany or Denmark. Candidates anywhere from the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries for 1-Year.
Closing date: 29 January 2024

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

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

We are seeking a self-starter; an experienced and energetic team member with a proven track-record of successfully securing five and six figure gifts from a wide range of donors. You have experience of fundraising from high-value Global trusts and foundations, as well as from government or multilateral donors (e.g. the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the European Union).  

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

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

You can expect: 

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

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

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here
• The deadline to receive your application is 29 January 2024.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

WHO is planning a landmark issue of its journal, which will focus on its normative leadership function (development of evidence-based guidelines etc). The Cochrane community is encouraged to submit a paper by 1 March 2024. 

One of the key roles of the World Health Organization  (WHO)  is to develop evidence-based guidelines and other forms of guidance to support Member States with public health decision-making. Cochrane supports this normative function through our ongoing collaboration, including through providing evidence synthesis and methodological support for WHO’s consideration in the development of new guidance.

WHO is planning a landmark issue of its journal, the Bulletin of World Health Organization (the Bulletin), which will focus on its normative leadership function. This issue will publish in October 2024 to coincide with the annual World Evidence-Based Health Care Day. WHO has launched a request for papers and is particularly interested in country level perspectives and in articles that propose innovative but feasible ways by which the WHO can further strengthen its normative leadership and guidance role.

Topics of interest include:

• Where has WHO succeeded in its normative leadership role? 
• In what specific areas has it successfully shaped global health, and why were these initiatives successful? 
• Where has WHO normative guidance been less impactful? If so, why was this the case, and what lessons can be learnt to improve impact in the future?
• What does the future of WHO’s normative function look like, particularly in the context of digital technology and artificial intelligence? 
• What aspects of the Organization’s mandate, structure, function and administration need to be further strengthened or changed?

Due to Cochrane’s breadth of expertise and knowledge in this area, Cochrane’s Groups and Networks across the world are encouraged to consider submitting a paper to this issue.

The deadline for submissions is 1 March 2024. 

• More information about this upcoming Bulletin issue and how to submit a paper.
• If you have any questions or are considering submitting, please let the Advocacy and Partnerships team know at msalman@cochrane.org.

Title: Deputy for Operations Management
Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £70,000 per Annum
Location: Remote - Ideally based in the UK, Germany or Denmark. Candidates from the rest of the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries.
Closing date: 06 November 2023

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.

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for excellence in editorial operations? We are looking to hire for a newly created role of Deputy for Operations Management. This role will lead a senior team and deputise for the Editor in Chief, therefore being at the forefront of Cochrane’s mission to optimise workflow, enhance processes, and ensure the successful delivery of projects and strategies to ultimately make a significant impact on healthcare knowledge worldwide.

You will collaborate closely with the Editor in Chief, and with the Evidence Production & Methods Directorate senior team and project leaders, bridging the gap between them and the Publishing & Technology Directorates.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to Cochrane’s organisational strategies, lead budget and planning processes, and step in for the Editor in Chief when required
• Align operations priorities and objectives across the directorate, optimise day-to-day operations, and oversee complaint management and resolution
• Drive innovation and improvements in internal processes
• Monitor and report performance metrics, coordinate financial planning, and negotiate contracts with vendors

Lead and facilitate communication among senior team members, identify directorate-level issues, monitor workload and capacity, and support skills development
 
The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and the ability to manage relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external to the business. They will ideally come from a scholarly publishing background - preferably within the STM field, and have significant experience in a senior editorial operations role. We will also be looking for demonstrable experience using metrics to enhance business performance and financial acumen, as well as the ability to lead a team through digital transformation.

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

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

You can expect:

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

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

How to apply

• If you’re interested in finding out more about this amazing new role, get in touch with Rhianna Patmore at Inspired Selection by sending your CV to r.patmore@inspiredselection.com.
• The deadline to receive your application is 06 November 2023
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples.
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement

Specifications: Permanent – Full Time
Salary:  £41,191 per Annum  
Location: Remote - Ideally based in the UK, Germany or Denmark. Candidates from the rest of the world will be considered; however, Cochrane’s Central Executive Team is only able to offer consultancy contracts outside these countries.
Closing date: 22 Oct 2023

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, review authors, and subscribers to Cochrane RevMan and Cochrane Interactive Learning; and handle enquiries from members of the public about Cochrane’s work.    

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

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

You can expect: 

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

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

How to apply

• For further information on the role and how to apply, please click here
• The deadline to receive your application is 22nd Oct, 2023.
• The supporting statement should indicate why you are applying for the post, and how far you meet the requirements, using specific examples. 
• Read our Recruitment Privacy Statement