CCInfo: Electronic news bulletin of The Cochrane Collaboration 29 October 2009 Contents: A. Last call for Cochrane News B. Cochrane Register of Studies announcement C. New newsletters D. 17th Cochrane Colloquium, Singapore E. Joint Colloquium of the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations F. November Cochrane Library training sessions G. CMF article published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine H. The EQUATOR newsletter I. Course - Systematic Reviews in the Health Sciences J. DARE Conference June 2010 K. Job ad - Programme Manager L. Job ads - Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group M. Job ad - Project Manager N. Next issue of CCInfo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A. Sender: Lori Tarbett [ltarbett@uottawa.ca] Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre Subject: Last call for Cochrane News This is the last call for articles for the next 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? Do you need to update members about your methods development? Cochrane members would love to hear about it. Please send articles of 400-500 words with photos to cochrane@uottawa.ca by Monday 9 November 2009. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B. Sender: Lucie Jones [registerofstudies@cochrane.org] Cochrane Secretariat Subject: Cochrane Register of Studies announcement This message is sent on behalf of the Cochrane Register of Studies Development Team [Lorne Becker, Jonathan Craig, Ruth Foxlee, Steve Greenaway (Oakleigh Consulting), Myles Gorton (Oakleigh Consulting), Gail Higgins, Lucie Jones (project management), Steve McDonald, Nick Royle and David Tovey] and the Collaboration's Steering Group. The Collaboration is very pleased to announce that following a thorough assessment of some very good proposals, Metaxis Ltd (www.metaxis.com) has been chosen as our development partner for the new Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS). The CRS will contain the Collaboration's Specialised Registers (SRs) of healthcare studies and their reports, to be published in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library (www.thecochranelibrary.com).Metaxis specialises in the development of content management solutions and workflow control software. Although based in the UK, Metaxis is aware of the international and dispersed nature of our organisation and its solution reflects this. The CRS will offer a new way of building and maintaining individual entity SRs and will become the mandatory mechanism for submitting SRs to CENTRAL.Nick Royle, CEO of the Collaboration, will lead contract negotiations with Metaxis over the coming weeks. The development of the CRS will then commence, with input from the Collaboration's members at all stages. An open question and answer session was held at the recent Colloquium in Singapore and further sessions will be scheduled for events such as the UK nd Ireland Cochrane Contributors' meeting in Cardiff, 2-3rd March 2010, to include interactive internet sessions to enable wide participation. Should you have any comments or queries, please send them to Lucie Jones at registerofstudies@cochrane.org. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX C. Sender: Lisa McGovern [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre Subject: New Newsletters I am pleased to advise that the following newsletters are now available for your reading pleasure: Cochrane Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders Group http://www.cochrane.org/newslett/ENTDisordersGroupOct2009.pdf Cochrane Childhood Cancer Group http://www.cochrane.org/newslett/ChildhoodCancerRGOct2009.pdf Nigerian Branch of the South African Centre Info Sheet http://www.cochrane.org/newslett/NigeriaInfoSheetOct2009.pdf XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX D. Sender: Juliane Ried [juliane.ried@scri.edu.sg] Singapore Local Organising Committee Subject: 17th Cochrane Colloquium, Singapore Many thanks to everyone who was part of this year's Cochrane Colloquium in Singapore. If you weren't able to make it but want to see something of what happened then the presentations from the plenary sessions are now online at http://www.cochrane.org/multimedia/colloquium_2009/. There are various options depending on your connection speed. PDF files of poster presentations can be viewed at http://www.cochrane.org/colloquium/2009/virtual_posters/. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX E. Sender: Paula Marchionda [Paula.Marchionda@UCDenver.edu] Colorado Local Organising Committee Subject: Joint Colloquium of the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations October 2010 Please mark your calendars! The Joint Colloquium of the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations will be held 18-22 October 2010, at the Keystone Resort in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA. This will be the 18th Cochrane Colloquium combined with the 10th Campbell Colloquium. For more information, please visit www.regonine.com/Colloquium2010 Contact: Paula Marchionda, paula.marchionda@ucdenver.edu Please note registration opens 15 February 2010. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX F. Sender: Caroll Mitchell [cmitchell@wiley.com] Wiley-Blackwell Subject: November Cochrane Library training sessions The Cochrane Library WebEx training sessions being offered during November are listed below: These sessions are conducted using WebEx which allows you to view live presentations from your desktop. For most sessions there will be an associated teleconference so you can hear the presentation and ask questions. Wiley-Blackwell will provide a toll free telephone number to dial in. The session/s marked with an * will be conducted using Integrated VoIP. To hear the presentation you should ideally have headphones, or at least working speakers on your computer. To register simply [Ctrl +] click on the title to be directed to the registration form. Check your time zone @ www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html COURSE TITLE | DATE | TIME | DURATION * The Cochrane Library - an introduction | 05-Nov-2009 | 10 AM London |1 hour https://wiley-interscience.webex.com/wiley-interscience/k2/j.php?ED=118070862&UID=1064284952&FM=1 ------------------------------------ The Cochrane Library - an introduction | 10-Nov-2009 | 2 PM New York |1 hour https://wiley-interscience.webex.com/wiley-interscience/k2/j.php?ED=118071972&UID=1064289177&FM=1 ------------------------------------ The Cochrane Library - an introduction | 17-Nov-2009 | 10:30 AM London |1 hour https://wiley-interscience.webex.com/wiley-interscience/k2/j.php?ED=118070372&UID=1064277477&FM=1 ------------------------------------ The Cochrane Library - an introduction (Canada) | 19-Nov-2009 | 2PM Toronto |1 hour https://wiley-interscience.webex.com/wiley-interscience/k2/j.php?ED=118071942&UID=1064289097&FM=1 ------------------------------------ The Cochrane Library - an introduction | 23-Nov-2009 | 11 AM New York |1 hour https://wiley-interscience.webex.com/wiley-interscience/k2/j.php?ED=118071977&UID=1064289182&FM=1 ------------------------------------ The Cochrane Library - an introduction | 26-Nov-2009 | 4 PM Sydney |1 hour https://wiley-interscience.webex.com/wiley-interscience/k2/j.php?ED=118071012&UID=1064286892&FM=1 ------------------------------------ Direct URL's to Wiley InterScience Cochrane Library tutorials: 1. The Cochrane Library - an introduction www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochrane1 2. Tips on Advanced and MESH searching www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochrane2 3. Setting up Saved Searches and e-mail Alerts www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochrane3 The Cochrane Library - Japanese NEW! www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranejap The Cochrane Library - Thai www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranethai The Cochrane Library - Malaysian www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranemly The Cochrane Library - Indonesian www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochraneinds The Cochrane Library - French www.brainshark.com/wiley/formationcochrane The Cochrane Library - German www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranede The Cochrane Library - Italian www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochraneit The Cochrane Library - Polish www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranepl The Cochrane Library - Portuguese www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranept The Cochrane Library - Spanish www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranees The Cochrane Library - Turkish www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochranetr XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX G. Sender: Eric Manheimer [emanheimer@compmed.umm.edu] Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field Subject: CMF article published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine In the current issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field published the article "Evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration for Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies". From Issue 4, 2008 of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, we identified 70 Cochrane systematic reviews focusing on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), primarily acupuncture (n=26) and Chinese herbal medicine (n=42), and 1 each of moxibustion and t'ai chi. (Each of these 70 Cochrane reviews is referenced in our article's reference list.) After our data extraction and review of these TCM-related Cochrane reviews, we found that most of the Cochrane systematic reviews of TCM are inconclusive, due specifically to the poor methodology and heterogeneity of the studies reviewed. Some Cochrane reviews provide preliminary evidence of Chinese medicine's benefits to certain patient populations, underscoring the importance and appropriateness of further research. These preliminary findings should be considered tentative and need to be confirmed with rigorous randomized controlled trials of TCM therapies. The column is available (with subscription) in the current issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine at http://www.liebertonline.com/toc/acm/15/9. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H. Sender: Iveta Simera [Iveta.Simera@csm.ox.ac.uk] Equator Network Subject: The EQUATOR newsletter now available online The EQUATOR Network is an international initiative that seeks to improve reliability and value of medical research literature by promoting transparent and accurate reporting of research studies. We provide online resources, education and training related to good research reporting practice, and support a development of robust reporting guidelines. EQUATOR website: http://www.equator-network.org/ Newsletter http://www.equator-network.org/index.aspx?o=1029&newsletters=yes XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I. Sender: Jonathan Sterne [Jonathan.Sterne@bristol.ac.uk] University of Bristol Subject: Course - Systematic Reviews in the Health Sciences Course: Systematic Reviews in the Health Science: Meta-Analysis in Context Date: 18-22 January 2010 Location: Hotel Jungfraublick, Wengen, Switzerland Details: By the end of this short course participants will have an understanding of: the role and potential of systematic reviews and the appropriate place of meta-analysis in the evaluation of health care interventions; the principles, steps and statistical methods involved; the biases that can distort reviews and ways to detect such biases and the issues surrounding systematic reviews of observational studies. Participants will gain practical experience in performing meta-analyses in Stata, including meta-analyses of randomised clinical trials, of individual patient data, of dose-response relations in epidemiology and of diagnostic test accuracy studies. Email: For more details including a course flyer, and for registration, please contact winterschool@ispm.unibe.ch Website: www.ispm.unibe.ch XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX J. Sender: Brian Taylor [bj.taylor@ulster.ac.uk] University of Ulster Subject: DARE Conference June 2010 Workshop: Decisions, Assessment, Risk and Evidence in Social Work Date: Monday 28 & Tuesday 29 June 2010 Location: Templeton Hotel, Templepatrick, Northern Ireland Details: This conference is designed to bring together researchers, educators, policy makers and senior practitioners to share current developments and to promote collaborative research, development and teaching initiatives in relation to decision making by social workers. Contact: Dr Brian Taylor Email: bj.taylor@ulster.ac.uk Website: http://www.socsci.ulster.ac.uk/spri/dare/ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX K. Sender: Jon Deeks [j.deeks@bham.ac.uk] Statistical Methods Group Subject: Job ad - Programme Manager Position: Programme Manager Reference: 46027 Organisation: UK Cochrane Diagnostic Test Support Unit and the Editorial Team Location: University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Application Deadline: 30 October 2009 Details: We are seeking a suitably qualified and experienced candidate to manage the activities of the UK Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Review Support Unit. The unit provides support to the Cochrane Review Groups based in the UK with their new diagnostic test systematic review activity, through individual support, training and research meetings, and is the home of the international editorial team. The post holder will implement, maintain and develop systems and procedures for these activities, fully manage the editorial process of the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Team, organise training and research events and ensure the efficient and professional running of the Unit. Contact: Jon Deeks, email j.deeks@bham.ac.uk or phone (0121 414 5328) Website: http://www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX L. Sender: Richard Elliott [relliott@asgireland.com] Queen's University Subject: Job ads - Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group Position: Managing Editor Ref: 09/101141 Organisation: Queen's University Belfast Location: School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Institute of Child Care Research (ICCR) Application Deadline: Friday 6 November 2009 Details: The Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group (CDPLPG) was established in 1997 in order to bring Cochrane methodology to bear on a wide range of medical, social, educational and socio-legal interventions relevant to children and young people. The following post is available immediately for 5 years, in the first instance, to assist in the work of the Group. This post will ensure the smooth running of the CDPLPG editorial base by providing specialised editorial support to authors. Contact: Personnel Department, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN. Telephone (028) 90973044 FAX: (028) 90971040 Email: personnel@qub.ac.uk Website: www.qub.ac.uk/jobs Position: Trials Search Co-ordinator Ref: 09/101142 Organisation: Queen's University Belfast Location: School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Institute of Child Care Research (ICCR) Application Deadline: Friday 6 November 2009 Details: The Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group (CDPLPG) was established in 1997 in order to bring Cochrane methodology to bear on a wide range of medical, social, educational and socio-legal interventions relevant to children and young people. The following post is available immediately for 5 years, in the first instance, to assist in the work of the Group. This post will assist authors of Cochrane systematic reviews with search strategies and to identify, store and disseminate information about controlled trials which concern interventions relevant to the research priorities of the CDPLPG. More information about the group can be found at http://dplpg.cochrane.org/en/index.html. Informal enquiries may be directed to Mrs Claire McMullan, telephone 028 9097 3065 or e-mail c.mcmullan@qub.ac.uk. Contact: Personnel Department, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN. Telephone (028) 90973044 FAX: (028) 90971040 Email: personnel@qub.ac.uk Website: www.qub.ac.uk/jobs XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX M. Sender: Rebecca Astar [r.astar@usyd.edu.au] University of Sydney Subject: Job ad - Project Manager Position: Project Manager, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine Organisation: University of Sydney Location: Sydney, Australia Application Deadline: 13 November 2009 Details: A vacancy currently exists for a Project Manager to manage the activities of the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group (CBCG) th or similar with extensive relevant experience and management expertise. It is essential that you have substantial experience in the design, conduct and reporting of well conducted systematic reviews including knowledge of quality control procedures. Equally important to your success in this role will be your experience in a clinical research environment and your ability to critique reports and medical research papers. Contact: Rebecca Astar Email: r.astar@usyd.edu.au Website: Project Manager (CBRG) or visit http://usyd.edu.au/positions and search under Reference No. 583/1009 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX N. Sender: Lisa McGovern [cochrane@uottawa.ca] Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre Subject: Next issue of CCInfo The next issue of CCInfo will be published 12 November 2009. 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, Lisa Lisa McGovern Administrative Assistant 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