2.4.4 Kenneth Warren Prize

Kenneth Warren, MD

Kenneth Warren was a larger-than-life man who was a source of encouragement and support for many young people, particularly those living in developing countries. He was very influential in drawing attention to the ‘great neglected diseases’ that plague people in the poorer parts of the world. He was one of the first people to draw attention to the need for valid summaries of key research studies and to the way that electronic media could be used to disseminate the results of health research relevant to people in developing countries. Ken was an enthusiastic supporter of the pilot work in pregnancy and childbirth that led to the creation of The Cochrane Collaboration, and, with Fred Mosteller, he co-organised the meeting at the New York Academy of Sciences at which the vision for The Cochrane Collaboration was first made public.

The Kenneth Warren Prize

The Kenneth Warren Prize was established with individual and institutional donations to celebrate and recognise Ken’s interests. It was awarded for the first time at the 8^th Cochrane Colloquium in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2000. The prize is awarded annually to the principal author of whichever systematic review, published electronically on The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in The Cochrane Library and authored by a national living in a developing country, is judged to be both of high methodological quality and relevant to health problems in developing countries. The Prize for any given year is open to the principal author of a review published in Issues 1 to 5 of The Cochrane Library that year, and Issues 6 to 12 of the previous year (i.e. twelve issues). The judgement is made by a panel comprised entirely of nationals of developing countries. The Prize recipient receives a certificate and 1000 US dollars. Also, the travel, accommodation and conference registration costs of the Prize recipient and of the Chair of the selection panel are met to enable attendance at the Cochrane Colloquium to receive/present the Prize.

Donors to the Kenneth Warren Prize Fund

Individual donors: Kenneth Warren’s Family, Cyril Akpom, Jan and Iain Chalmers, Dr and Mrs Joseph Cook, Murray and Eleanor Enkin, Phyllis Freeman and Anthony Robbins, Mr and Mrs Alfred Heggie, Adel Mahmoud, Irwin and Marion Schafer, Chris and Jane Silagy.

Institutional donors: Current Controlled Trials Ltd; Eugene Garfield Foundation; Rockefeller Foundation; The LW Frohlich Charitable Trust.

Additional donations to the Kenneth Warren Prize Fund are very welcome. Anyone wishing to consider making a donation should contact the Cochrane Operations Unit (secretariat@cochrane.org).

More details can be found on the Collaboration's website at http://www.cochrane.org/about-us/awards-scholarships-funding-initiatives/annual-prizes-and-awards/kenneth-warren-prize.