Our Methods Groups provide policy advice and focus on developing the methods used to produce Cochrane reviews. Over the past year they’ve been working hard on activities from writing papers on responsible AI use to identifying research priorities.
We are putting a spotlight on each Group to share what they have been up to over the last year. Click on each Methods Group below to find out more.
Adverse Effects
Convenors: Evan Mayo-Wilson, Joey Kwong, Riaz Qureshi, Su Golder, Sunita Vohra, Yoon Loke
Highlight
Published a key concept paper to reinforce and operationalize existing standards by identifying harm outcomes that are applicable in many trials of biomedical interventions.
Research and development
- Members of the group have contributed to a ‘Key Concepts in Clinical Epidemiology’ article, outlining strategies to improve the reporting and synthesis of adverse events in meta-analyses of randomized trials of biomedical interventions.
Best practice and guidance
- Members of the group plan to update PRISMA Harms in the imminent future.
Methods implementation
- A member of the group has contributed as a Co-Chair of the Working Group for the community-led agenda for methods development and innovation, supporting the priorities and commitments of the Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative (ESIC).
- Continued to support the peer review of Cochrane Reviews and commented on the evaluation of adverse effects, advised on appropriate search methods and study designs.
Learn more about the Cochrane Adverse Effects Methods Group.
Artificial Intelligence
This is a joint Methods Group between Cochrane, the Campbell Collaboration, JBI and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE).
Convenors: Edoardo Aromataris, Ella Flemyng, Gerald Gartlehner, Biljana Macura, Joerg Meerpohl, Jan Minx, Anna Noel Storr, James Thomas, Vivian Welch
Associate Convenors: Max Callaghan, Angelika Eisele-Metzger, Matthew Grainger, Paweł Jemioło, Candyce Hamel, Kylie Porritt
Highlight
Setting the global standards and leading adoption for responsible use of AI in evidence synthesis through evaluation, guidance, and community leadership
Research and development
- Leading the Cochrane Evaluation of (Semi-) Automated Review methods (CESAR) project; an innovative adaptive platform study within a review that evaluates multiple AI tools simultaneously under a single protocol
- Involved in the Wellcome-funded Destiny project, developing an AI-enabled evidence synthesis meta-repository and related tools (e.g., the Data Extraction Evaluation Toolkit)
- Coordinating a joint global survey on AI use in evidence based healthcare to understand how AI is currently understood, experienced, and applied across our communities
Best practice and guidance
- Continued supporting the living status of the 3-paper collection on Responsible AI in evidence SynthEsis (RAISE), with guidance on acceptable/not acceptable AI uses (RAISE 3)
- Published a joint position statement on AI use between Cochrane, Campbell, JBI and CEE, and a position statement on AI use in rapid reviews with the Rapid Reviews Methods Group.
- Led and contributed to updates of key conduct and reporting standards (Cochrane, JBI, MECCIR, CEE, and ROSES); defining best practice for stopping criteria for prioritized methods
Methods implementation
- Defined guidance for AI use disclosures and supporting AI literacy capacity strengthening within editorial teams
- Developing a community of practice around the AI Method Group to support shared learning, dialogue, and connection across organizations and individuals in evidence synthesis
- Involvement in events and conferences, including joint International Collaboration for Automation in Systematic Reviews (ICASR) and Cochrane Methods Symposium, Cochrane Colloquium, JBI Ignite, GIN, and the National Academies of Sciences
Learn more about the Cochrane Artificial Intelligence Methods Group.
Bias
Convenors: Isabelle Boutron, Julian Higgins, Asbjørn Hróbjartsson, Matthew Page
Highlight
Launch of version 2 of the ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies – of Interventions) tool
Research and development
- A first draft of version 2 of the ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions) tool is now available.
- Leading the work on developing a Tool for Addressing Conflicts of Interest in randomized Trials (TACIT)
- Co-leading the partial update of the PRISMA 2020 reporting guideline for systematic reviews to incorporate guidance on use of AI tools in the systematic review process
- Co-leading the update of the PRISMA-P reporting guideline for systematic review protocols
- Leading a living systematic review of AI tools for risk of bias assessment in systematic reviews (AI4RoB)
Best practice and guidance
- Bias Methods Group annual meetings provided a forum for dissemination and discussion of advances in systematic review methodology, including new tools and approaches for assessing risk of bias and certainty of the evidence.
Methods implementation
- Launch of the online version of the ROB-ME tool
- Methods Support Unit web clinic on version 2 of the ROBINS-I tool to assess risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions
- Cochrane Learning Live webinar on how to address conflicts of interests in systematic reviews using TACIT
- Available to support Cochrane Reviews
Learn more about the Cochrane Bias Methods Group.
Co-production
Convenors: Alex Todhunter-Brown, Maureen Smith, Nicole Pitcher
Highlight
Cochrane Co-production Methods Group held a successful ‘A day with’ event and published two key papers relating to co-production methods
Research and development
- Publication of ‘Top 20 research priorities on methods of co-production in evidence synthesis’ (a prioritization exercise led by our group)
- Publication of Methods of engaging interest-holders in healthcare evidence syntheses: a scoping review (led by co-convener Alex Todhunter-Brown, as part of our contributions to the MuSE-Evidence Syntheses project)
- Protocol for mapping published research methods papers to the Top 20 research priorities
- Establishment of a catalogue of ongoing methods research relating to co-production
Best practice and guidance
- Production and dissemination of quarterly newsletters (December 2025; March 2026; July 2026
- ‘A day with….Cochrane Co-production Methods Group’ – held 24th February 2026
- Reached agreement to develop new chapter for Cochrane Handbook on patient and public involvement / coproduction
Methods implementation
- Continued contributions to ESIC
- Contributions to and circulation of draft guidance for engagement in evidence synthesis, led by the MuSE consortium
- Supporting an ‘Open discussion group on involvement in evidence synthesis’, led by Science for All
Learn more about the Cochrane Co-production Methods Group.
Equity
Convenors: Peter Tugwell, Vivian Welch, Lara Maxwell, Jordi Pardo Pardo, Jennifer Petkovic
Highlight
Advancing health equity reporting in observational research – the STROBE-Equity extension.
Research and development
- Scoping review of methods of engaging interest-holders in healthcare evidence syntheses
- Qualitative evidence synthesis of barriers and facilitators to interest-holder engagement in health guideline development
Best practice and guidance
- Continue working with Cochrane to improve guidance for including equity considerations in all reviews (the new review template)
- Published guidance for health equity in observational research:
- Contributed to recommendations to address the inadequacy and inconsistency of socio-demographic data collection and reporting in human adult pain research
Methods implementation
- Published two tutorials to help authors consider equity within their reviews:
Learn more about the Cochrane Equity Methods Group.
GRADEing
Convenors: Sue Brennan, Miranda Langendam, Holger Schünemann
Highlight
Celebrating 25 years of GRADE and its global impact, delivered new guidance at the forefront of evidence synthesis, decision making and planetary health, and advanced methods on health equity, research prioritization and artificial intelligence.
Research and development
- Advanced methodological research on planetary health, health equity, making evidence-based recommendations for research, and automation tools for evaluating certainty of evidence. See our LinkedIn channel.
- Published new guidance on using randomised and non-randomised studies in evidence synthesis, using evidence from pairwise and multiple comparisons in decision-making, and integrating planetary health in guidelines.
Best practice and guidance
- We have published a number of new GRADE book chapters, concept and guidance articles (a complete repository of which can be found using the new interactive GRADE map).
- New chapters of the GRADE Book (book.gradepro.org the official GRADE source): the history and evolution of GRADE, indirectness, decision thresholds, evidence to decision frameworks and making recommendations, among others.
Methods implementation
- Celebrated 25 years of GRADE with events in which collaborators from Cochrane, the WHO, European Commission, CAN-PCC (Canadian Long Covid guidelines) and others shared stories about the impact of GRADE on developing guidelines and healthcare decision making.
- Launched an eight-part series of Cochrane Learning Live webinars designed to help systematic reviewers understand and apply GRADE. The series has delivered comprehensive training on principles and practical application of the latest guidance, including the GRADE book.
Learn more about the Cochrane GRADEing Methods Group.
Information Retrieval
Convenors: Carol Lefebvre (CL) (Lead) and Jessie McGowan (JMcG)
Coordinator: Anne Cleves (AC)
Highlight
Major revision and update of Cochrane Author Training Materials - Searching for Studies - completed and published in June 2026.
Research and development
- CL continued to serve on the Editorial Board of the Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods journal.
- CL continued to serve as a Co-Editor and to maintain and develop the InterTASC Information Specialists' Sub-Group Search Filter Resource.
Best practice and guidance
- CL ICML presentation on all Cochrane handbook searching chapters July 2026.
- CL Author Training Materials major revision and update with Ruth Turley May 2026
- CL and JMcG peer review of searching chapter of rapid reviews handbook – ongoing.
- AC set up LinkedIn for IRMG, to disseminate information regarding best practice and guidance, in addition to Bluesky and our mailing list (and we ceased to communicate via X / (Twitter)).
- AC continued to volunteer as part of the Cochrane Search Peer Review Team, undertaking peer review of search strategies.
- AC continued to volunteer as a CIS for the Cochrane Urology Group contributing to a recent Cochrane review on Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening.
Methods implementation
- CL is currently working with Cochrane interventions handbook searching for and selecting studies chapter co-authors, to consider the provision of guidance on stopping rules for screening, for potential inclusion in the interventions handbook – ongoing.
Learn more about the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group.
Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis
Convenors: Jayne Tierney, Lesley Stewart, Mike Clarke
Coordinator: Larysa Rydzewska
Highlight
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Methods Symposium at the 2026 Society for Research Synthesis Methodology Annual Meeting highlighted the evolution of IPD meta-analysis, key methodological challenges and potential solutions, and emerging opportunities in AI, health equity and personalized evidence synthesis.
Research and development
- The integrity R package for assessing the Integrity and Trustworthiness of IPD from clinical trials
- Paper providing guidance around harmonizing individual participant data from intervention studies for meta-analysis: a practical framework with case studies (manuscript under review)
- Systematic review of current methodological guidance, highlighting best practices and critical domains for evaluating IPD-MAs to inform development of a dedicated IPD-MA critical appraisal tool.
Best practice and guidance
- Webinar on prospective meta-analysis (PMA) including PMA based on IPD
- New standalone Cochrane Handbook chapter on Prospective, collaborative approaches to meta-analysis which includes practical guidance on PMAs of IPD
Methods implementation
- A key IPD meta-analysis shows that nearly all statin side effects listed on drug labels are not supported by randomised trial evidence, with findings that support updating regulatory guidance
Learn more about the Cochrane IPD Meta-analysis Methods Group.
Non-Randomized Studies for Interventions
Convenors: Beverley Shea, Hugh Sharma Waddington, Jo Dumville
Highlight
Strengthening the use, assessment and interpretation of evidence from non-randomized studies of interventions
Research and development
- Trustworthiness of non-randomized studies beyond traditional risk-of-bias domains: A 2026 international survey of experts, including members of the Cochrane Non-Randomized Studies for Interventions (NRSI) Methods Group, identified 56 factors that may influence the trustworthiness of NRSIs.
- Study design and risk of bias: 2026 publication presented framework emphasizing common sources of bias across diverse designs while recognizing that specific assessment needs to reflect study design, treatment assignment mechanism and causal pathway
- The group has continued to contribute to Cochrane's work on responsible use of artificial intelligence and large language models in evidence synthesis
Best practice and guidance
- Key publication on using and distinguishing evidence from NRSIs builds on group’s longstanding emphasis describing specific characteristics of study designs and treatment assignment mechanisms rather than relying on potentially uninformative design labels.
- The group has also contributed to broader methodological work examining how risk of bias should be assessed across different types of impact evaluations.
- Engaged with GRADE on methods for incorporating randomized trials and NRSIs into systematic reviews (Cuello Garcia et al., 2026) and with the STROBE Equity working group on improved reporting of observational studies (Dewidar et al., 2026)
Methods implementation
- The group continues to support implementation of the Cochrane guidance on: Defining and determining which quantitative study designs to include in a systematic review of the effects of a healthcare intervention.
Learn more about the Cochrane NRS for Interventions Methods Group.
Priority Setting Methods Group
Convenors: Hyunggu Jung, Somang Nam, Prashanti Eachempati, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj, Mona Nasser, Tarang Sharma, Moni Choudhury, Seilin Uhm
Highlight
Driving innovation in research priority setting: advanced global methods through the WHO Global Research Agenda, methodological scholarship and support for high-quality evidence syntheses across multiple health disciplines.
Research and development
- Contributed to the development of the WHO Global Research Agenda on Knowledge Translation using a rigorous, international priority-setting methodology
- Contributed to methodological scholarship on the conduct and synthesis of research priority-setting exercises, proposing new approaches to improve the rigour, transparency and usefulness of systematic reviews of research priorities
- Continued to advance methodological thinking in research priority setting through the publication of "Do we need systematic reviews of research priority setting? A proposal for a new concept on conducting systematic reviews of research priority setting exercises" in Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods
Best practice and guidance
- Continued to promote best practice in research priority setting by providing methodological advice and mentorship to review authors developing systematic reviews and scoping reviews across diverse health topics.
- Continued to strengthen international collaboration across academia, healthcare organizations and policy partners, supporting capacity building in evidence synthesis and research prioritization
Methods implementation
- Supported the implementation of research priority-setting methods within Cochrane by providing methodological expertise to multiple review teams from protocol development through to publication.
- Supported the development and publication of multiple evidence syntheses across a broad range of healthcare topics, including alcohol use disorder services, chronic kidney disease and shift work, paediatric end-of-life care and medicines optimization in prison healthcare
Learn more about the Cochrane Priority Setting Methods Group.
Prognosis Methods Group
Convenors: Carl Moons, Richard Riley, Katrina Williams
Coordinator: Anneke Damen
Highlight
Draft chapters of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Prognosis Research and Prediction Models have been published online.
Research and development
- Published AMSTAR-PF, a tool for critical appraisal of systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies
- Developing ROB-OP and ROB-PF: risk of bias tools for overall prognosis studies and prognostic factor studies.
- Developing TRIPOD-SR-OP and TRIPOD-SR-PF for reporting reviews of overall prognosis and prognostic factor studies
Best practice and guidance
- Published many papers on reporting and methods for primary and meta-prognosis studies, including screening using large language models.
- Finalized all chapters of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Prognosis Research and Prediction Models, covering all steps for conducting a systematic review
Methods implementation
- Provided online and face-to-face courses on systematic reviews of prognosis studies for Cochrane authors
- Developed a new RevMan review template for reviews of prognosis studies
- Available to support and peer review Cochrane Reviews of prognosis studies
Learn more about the Cochrane Prognosis Methods Group.
Prospective Meta-Analysis Methods Group
Convenors: Anna Lene Seidler, Kylie Hunter, Lisa Askie
Associate Convenors: Jesse Berlin, Peter Godolphin
Highlight
Cochrane Handbook Chapter gets a revamp: ‘Prospective, collaborative approaches to meta-analysis’.
Research and development
- Updated the Cochrane Handbook chapter on prospective meta-analysis to incorporate the latest collaborative methods and approaches.
- Co-led and contributed to the design of a prospective meta-analysis of randomised trials investigating the effects of baloxavir in hospitalised patients with severe influenza. This study presents an opportunity to collect both individual participant data and detailed aggregate data, which enables a study within a review to compare these two data collection approaches.
- Developed a methodological framework to support harmonization of outcomes and covariates across trials contributing individual participant data for meta-analysis (manuscript under review).
Best practice and guidance
- Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Methods Special Issue – two members of the group are co-editing a special issue on collaborative evidence synthesis for Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods. The call for papers closes at the end of September 2026, with the special issue expected to be out mid-2027.
- Invited 2026 webinars (Seidler & Hunter): Prospective, collaborative approaches to meta-analysis: latest updates and Prospective meta-analysis in public health
Methods implementation
- Working with Thematic Groups to provide methods expertise: co-leading the methods node for Cochrane Child and Maternal Health, supporting methods across reviews.
- Providing guidance and advice for implementing the IPD Integrity Tool into Cochrane reviews, e.g. Therapeutic hypothermia for newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.
Learn more about the Cochrane Prospective Meta-Analysis Methods Group.
Qualitative and Implementation
Convenors: Jane Noyes, Heather Ames, Andrew Booth, Kate Flemming, Emma France, Ruth Garside, Angela Harden, Catherine Houghton, Tomas Pantoja, Katy Sutcliffe
Interns: May Bianchim, Martina Giltenane, Aoife O’Mahony
Highlight
Strengthening the future of Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) through capacity building and methodological innovation.
Research and development
- Delivering research for the MRC-NIHR Better Methods, Better Research funding (PIs Prof Emma Fance and Prof Jane Noyes) PRISMA reporting guideline and standards for qualitative evidence synthesis (PRISMA QES) and we are now user testing the draft guideline
- Involvement in METIUS project (Mobilizing Evidence Through Artificial Intelligence and User-Informed Synthesis) a £11.5 million UKRI-funded infrastructure initiative designed to revolutionize how scientific evidence is synthesized and delivered to policymakers in the UK and globally. One focus of their Methods Work package will be developing and enhancing methods of mixed methods synthesis to support policy scale decision making.
Best practice and guidance
- The new Cochrane-Campbell Handbook for QES is complete and in production
- Development four new interactive digital training modules to support users of the Cochrane-Campbell Handbook for Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
- Supported through the Brocher Foundation for a 3-day, 2026 workshop marking a significant step in the ongoing development of PRISMA-QES.
- In development: quality assessment tool for realist syntheses via a process of scoping review, methodological audit, Delphi survey and consensus meetings.
Methods implementation
- Three interns have now become associate convenors (listed above), demonstrating career development for individuals and capacity building for the group in terms of supporting methods implementation across the Collaboration.
Learn more about the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group.
Rapid Reviews
Convenors: Declan Devane, Chantelle Garritty, Gerald Gartlehner, Ursula Griebler, Candyce Hamel, Chris Kamel, Valerie King, Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit
Highlight
Published a position statement on responsible use of AI in rapid reviews.
Research and development
- Publication of the REVEAL guidance: Identifying prior evidence for new trials (REVEAL): guidance for clinical researchers
Best practice and guidance
- Position statement on responsible AI use in rapid reviews: Responsible Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Rapid Reviews: A Position Statement From the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group
- Editorial on the Rapid Reviews Methods Series in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine: Rapid reviews methods series: practical guidance for conducting timely evidence syntheses
- Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods Journal tutorial on rapid reviews
- Publication on Evidence Synthesis Types and Modes explaining the role of rapid review modes
- Development of the Cochrane Handbook of Rapid Reviews: Handbook editors: Chantelle Garritty, Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit, Ursula Griebler, Candyce Hamel, Isolde Sommer
- Development of PRISMA-RR
Methods implementation
Learn more about the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group.
Statistics
Convenors: Joanne McKenzie, Mark Simmonds, Areti Angeliki (Argie) Veroniki, Theodoros Evrenoglou, Joseph Alvin Ramos Santos, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Korevaar
Highlight
Delivered a six-part webinar series – Statistical analysis and systematic reviews – for review authors and trainers, covering topics from review question development through to meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity
Research and development
- Established a Rare Events Working Group to synthesize the evidence on statistical approaches for handling rare events in meta-analysis, from which, recommendations for methods to be implemented in RevMan will be formed.
Best practice and guidance
- Reviewed and made recommendations on methods proposed to be adopted within Cochrane.
- Co-organized Cochrane training webinars:
- Webinar series: Statistical analysis in systematic reviews, including Analyzing other outcomes and study designs and Synthesizing and presenting results when meta-analysis is not possible
Methods implementation
- Provided support to review authors, Cochrane Review Groups and the Methods Support Unit by contributing expertise as peer reviewers and advisers.
- Co-authored Cochrane reviews
Learn more about the Cochrane Statistics Methods Group.
