CCInfo: Electronic news bulletin of The Cochrane Collaboration 15 May 2008 Contents: A. Reviews for Africa Programme B. T. Mark Hodges International Service Award for Carol Lefebvre C. Cochrane News - Call for articles D. New staff at Cochrane Back Review Group E. Completing a Cochrane Systematic Review Workshop, US F. US Cochrane Conference on Priority Setting for Systematic Reviews G. Call for abstracts - 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making H. EQUATOR Network Launch Meeting I. Job ad – Lecturer in statistics, UK J. Job ad – Research assistant, UK K. Next Issue of CCInfo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A. Sender: Martin Meremikwu [cochranenigeria@yahoo.co.uk] Subject: Reviews for Africa Programme (RAP) Nigeria The Reviews for Africa Programme (RAP) aims to train African health researchers and providers in the science of research synthesis and assist them to initiate and prepare a Cochrane review, ultimately for publication on in The Cochrane Library. The strategic focus of Programme reviews will be on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases and issues relevant to Africa. The following organizations are partnering in this venture: 1. Nigeria Effective HealthCare Research programme (NEHCAP), Calabar, Nigeria 2. Institute of Tropical Disease Research & Prevention, Calabar, Nigeria 3. South African Cochrane Centre (SACC), Cape Town, South Africa 4. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), UK 5. RAP is supported by a grant from the Nuffield Commonwealth Programme, through The Nuffield Foundation. RAP Nigeria will train Nigerian health researchers. This course will be piloted in October 2008 and will consist of three phases. Successful completion of each phase will lead to progression to the next phase. Phase 1: Protocol development workshop – 2 weeks Objective: To train participants on skills for research synthesis and conduct of Cochrane systematic reviews. Location: NBofSACC, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research & Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria Phase 2: Publication of the protocol, preparation of the Cochrane review – 6-8 months Objective: To guide authors through the process of protocol completion, peer review and publication as well as initial preparation for the review completion. Location: Participant's home institution Phase 3: Cochrane review finishing school – 2 weeks Objective: To support participants to complete their reviews to the standard that it can go for peer review. Location: NBofSACC, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research & Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria Fellowship: Funding is available to cover transport, accommodation, local travel, subsistence, course materials, and post-course support for a limited number of participants. Application deadline: 4pm 30 June 2008 For more information on participant eligibility and to submit an application and relevant supporting documentation, contact: The Director Nigerian Branch of South African Cochrane Centre Institute of Tropical Disease Research & Prevention University of Calabar Teaching Hospital P O Box 3134 ,Calabar, 540001 Cross River State, Nigeria E-mail: cochranenigeria@yahoo.co.uk Should your application be successful, we will inform you in writing by 30 July 2008 with further instructions. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B. Sender: Mike Clarke [mclarke@cochrane.co.uk] Subject: T. Mark Hodges International Service Award for Carol Lefebvre Carol Lefebvre, Senior Information Specialist at the UK Cochrane Centre, has received the T. Mark Hodges International Service Award from the US Medical Library Association. This Award recognises outstanding individual achievement in promoting, enabling and/or delivering improvements in the quality of health information internationally through the development of health information professions, the improvement of libraries or an increased use of health information services. Carol is the first person to receive this Award since it was first awarded (posthumously) to Mark Hodges, in whose honour it was founded, in 2007. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX C. Sender: Cheryl Arratoon [carratoo@uottawa.ca] Subject: Cochrane News – Call for articles This is the first call for articles for the summer issue of Cochrane News. Do you have stories about how Cochrane reviews have been used? Is your entity involved in a new project, workshop or other event? Cochrane members would love to hear about it. Please send articles of 400-500 words with photos to cochrane@uottawa.ca by 2 July 2008. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX D. Sender: Victoria Pennick [vpennick@iwh.on.ca] Subject: New staff at Cochrane Back Review Group I am pleased to welcome Marie-Andrée Nowlan to the Back Review Group for the summer. As the Assistant RGC, her main focus will be to help with the day-to-day activities of the Editorial Office and the conversion of our protocols and reviews to RM5. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX E. Sender: Ann Ervin [aervin@jhsph.edu] Subject: Completing a Cochrane Systematic Review Workshop, US Workshop: Completing a Cochrane Systematic Review Date: 16-18 July 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland (USA) Details: This workshop guides participants through the steps of developing a systematic review and includes presentations about Cochrane methodology and hands-on practice using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Review Manager (RevMan) software. Priority registration for those interested in contributing to the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group. Those with Cochrane registered titles, protocols, and reviews as well as those interested in learning more about systematic reviews are also accepted, space permitting. Contact: Ann Ervin (uscevg@jhsph.edu) or go to the website http://www.cochraneeyes.org/workshops/systematicreview.htm for more information. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX F. Sender: Janice Gordon [jlgordon@jhsph.edu] Subject: US Cochrane Conference on Priority Setting for Systematic Reviews Event: US Cochrane Conference on Priority Setting for Systematic Reviews Host: US Cochrane Center Date: 10 – 11 July 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Details: How do we decide which systematic review to do? Is there an ideal system for prioritizing which systematic reviews get done, or are there many ways to make the decision? Policy makers, health care providers, consumers and payers will come together to share current practice, innovative approaches, and untested models to set priorities. Conference participants will explore new and existing priority setting models through plenary sessions, case studies, debates, workshops and discussions. Models, criteria, standards and methods will be presented by a wide variety of individuals and agencies involved in producing systematic reviews. Confirmed speakers include: Lorne Becker, Lisa Bero, Martin Burden, Lester Firkins, Doug McCrory, Shawna Mercer, David Moher, Jean Slutsky, Hal Sox, Sharon Straus, and Evelyn Whitlock. Contact: For a full agenda and registration form visit http://apps1.jhsph.edu/cochrane/prioritysetting.htm XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX G. Sender: Roberta Scherer rscherer@jhsph.edu] Subject: Call for abstracts - 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making Event: 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making: Comparative Effectiveness Research Host: Society for Medical Decision Making Date: 19 – 22 October 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Details: Accepted abstracts will be published online in Medical Decision Making, SMDM’s peer-reviewed scientific journal. Abstract submission deadline: Friday, June 6, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Contact: For more information about the meeting or to submit an abstract, go to http://www.smdm.org/smdm_annual_meetings.shtml. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H. Sender: Iveta Simera [Iveta.Simera@csm.ox.ac.uk] Subject: EQUATOR Network Launch Meeting Event: Achieving Transparency in Reporting Health Research Host: EQUATOR Network Date: 26 June 2008 Location: The Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK Details: The EQUATOR Network (http://www.equator-network.org/) is a new international initiative that aims to improve the reliability of scientific publications by promoting transparent and accurate reporting of health research. The project was initiated by an international group of leading experts in the field of research methodology and reporting (Prof Douglas Altman, Dr David Moher, Dr Kenneth Schulz, Dr John Hoey). This official launch meeting of the EQUATOR Network will focus on better understanding of problems associated with health research reporting and use of reporting guidelines and will discuss potential solutions that can lead to the improvement of the health research literature. The highlight of the afternoon programme is 1st EQUATOR Annual Lecture 'Meeting the research information needs of patients and clinicians more effectively' presented by Sir Iain Chalmers. Pre-conference workshop, 25 June: ‘Key guidelines for reporting health research studies’ mainly for journal editors and peer-reviewers. Registration forms for both events are available from the website: http://www.equator-network.org/ Contact: Mrs Marty Kilby, marty.kilby@virgin.net XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I. Sender: Caroline Rouse [CRouse@cochrane.co.uk] Subject: Job ad – Lecturer in statistics, UK Position: Lecturer in statistics Organisation: Joint post at UK Cochrane Centre and Centre for Statistics in Medicine Location: Oxford, UK Application deadline: 30 May 2008 Contact: For an informal discussion about this post please contact: Phil Wiffen, Training Director on 01865 516300 or by email at pwiffen@cochrane.co.uk. Website: Please apply online via www.oxfordradcliffejobs.nhs.uk, reference 321-E-NW-101. A covering letter supporting your application setting out how you fit the criteria, and a CV are to be returned to Caroline Rouse at the UK Cochrane Centre, Summertown Pavilion, Middle Way, Oxford OX2 7LG or via email crouse@cochrane.co.uk. Please also send a copy of up to 3 recently published or submitted papers/articles. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX J. Sender: Jo Jordan [j.jordan@cphc.keele.ac.uk] Subject: Job ad – Research assistant, UK Position: Research assistant - Health Service Research Organisation: Faculty of Health, The Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University Location: Keele, Staffordshire, UK Application deadline: 15 May 2008 Contact: Dr Mark Shapley, General Practitioner and Research Fellow (m.shapley@cphc.keele.ac.uk). Email vacancies@keele.ac.uk for the job application pack. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX K. Sender: Cheryl Arratoon [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Subject: Next Issue of CCInfo The next issue of CCInfo will be published 29 May 2008. Please submit your items to cochrane@uottawa.ca and include "CCInfo" in the subject line. Unless you request otherwise, your submissions to the CCInfo may be duplicated in other regular Cochrane Collaboration news channels such as Cochrane News and the Cochrane Collaboration web site, at the discretion of the editors. Best regards, Cheryl Cheryl Arratoon Knowledge Broker Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre 1 Stewart St, 2nd Floor Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 Email: cochrane@uottawa.ca Web: www.ccnc.cochrane.org XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the CCInfo list, please go to http://lists.cochrane.org/mailman/listinfo/ccinfo, or contact the Editor at cochrane@uottawa.ca