About Cochrane & the Cochrane Library

Cochrane US Network

The Cochrane US Network works to promote evidence-based decision making in medicine, public health, and healthcare in the US by producing high-quality systematic and evidence reviews, supporting and building capacity for systematic review authors, training current and potential users of Cochrane Reviews, and forging collaborative partnerships for policy and guidance. The US Network also collaborates with clinicians, professional associations, policymakers, patients, healthcare provider organizations, and the media to encourage the dissemination and use of Cochrane evidence. 

Cochrane US is just one of multiple global geographic Cochrane member networks. Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health.  Cochrane produces systematic reviews of research and evidence in healthcare and health policy and shortened versions are freely available in  The Cochrane Library and at the Tisch Library at Tufts.  All Cochrane member institutions and authors commit to the highest level of scientific rigor in their undertakings and must adhere to rigorous standards for membership and publication in the Cochrane Library.

Cochrane US Network

Background & Purpose of US Network
Established in June 2019, the Cochrane U.S. Network builds on a long-standing history of Cochrane efforts in the United States (U.S.). The Cochrane U.S. Network brings together multiple groups based across the country to deliver a broad range and scale of Cochrane activities, collaborate across institutions, and create a greater impact of that work in diverse regions and different contexts.

The Cochrane U.S. Network is made up of some of the country’s leading institutions in the research, synthesis, and practice of evidence-based medicine and public health. Each member organization of the U.S. Network has its own function and specific areas of expertise and focus. Collectively, the U.S. Network will work to promote evidence-based decision-making in health care and public health in the U.S. by raising awareness, knowledge, and value for Cochrane and its evidence, supporting the production of high quality and relevant systematic reviews and their strategic dissemination and promoting the use of Cochrane evidence among patients, caregivers, clinicians, other practitioners, health systems, guideline developers, and policymakers to make evidence-based decisions. The U.S. Network will play a leadership role to increase evidence-based health decisions through collaboration, training, patient and stakeholder engagement, and dissemination and implementation, while maintaining close alignment with Cochrane’s strategic plan and goals.

Vision 
A world where every health care and public health decision is based on the best available evidence.

Mission 
Improve the health of individuals, communities, and populations by promoting the production, evaluation, understanding, and use of scientific evidence to inform health policy, programs, and decision making.

Guiding Values
Quality
Collaboration
Transparency
Engagement
Dissemination
Trust

Who We Are
The Network comprises various Cochrane institutions and review groups based in the U.S. These include:  

  • U.S.-based Cochrane Review Groups. Cochrane Review Groups are responsible for the efficient and timely production of high-quality systematic reviews that address the most important research questions for decision-makers. The Network includes three U.S.-based Cochrane Review Groups (Fertility Regulation, Neonatal, and Urology) and three U.S.-based satellites of Cochrane Review Groups (Eyes and Vision, Musculoskeletal, and Pregnancy and Childbirth). 
  • U.S.-based Cochrane Fields. Cochrane Fields focuses on cross-cutting dimensions of health care versus a specific condition or topic. The Network includes the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field.
  • Associate Center. Associate Centers work to promote Cochrane by serving as an official Cochrane representative in their region, building local partnerships, and hosting local Cochrane events.  Associate Centers also contribute to the Cochrane priority setting, training users of evidence, and supporting review production via training. The Network includes the Cochrane US West Associate Center, which represents a large partnership of academic institutions, major health systems, and community organizations including Oregon Health & Science University, the University of California at San Francisco, VA Portland Health Care System Evidence Synthesis Program, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, and Northwest Oregon Health Authority. 
  • Affiliate Centers. Affiliate Centers work to promote and support the development and use of Cochrane evidence in health care and public health decision-making and guideline development, including fostering the community of Cochrane members, capacity-building through training, and disseminating Cochrane evidence throughout the U.S. As of August 2020, there are 15 Cochrane Affiliate Centers located at the following institutions:
  • AcademyHealth
  • American College of Physicians
  • Cornell University Division of Nutrition
  • Mayo Clinic Evidence-based Practice Center
  • Mississippi Centre of Evidence-Based Practice 
  • Penn Medicine Center for Evidence-based Practice 
  • RTI International – University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center
  • Texas Christian University School of Nursing 
  • The Ohio State University Evidence-based Practice Center
  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Tufts University – School of Medicine 
  • University of Chicago Medicine
  • University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine
  • U.S. GRADE Network

Executive Committee
A six-member Executive Committee advises on priorities, activities, and decisions of the U.S. Network. The Executive Committee positions represent active Network members from five of the member organizations of the U.S. Network, plus the Network Coordinator.  A Chair or two Co-Chair positions may be selected within the Executive Committee.  The Committee is election-based and term-limited (Coordinator exempt).

Coordinator
A 0.6 FTE Coordinator provides management, communications, administration, and strategic support to the U.S. Network and its activities.

Funding
Cochrane Central provides temporary funding for the Coordinator position as the U.S. Network develops and works to establish funding to support its staffing and activities. Cochrane’s Development Coordinator has prioritized time to support fundraising on behalf of the U.S. Network, both for Network-level projects and member-level projects.  Establishing funding mechanisms to support the sustainability of the Network, its coordinator, and cross-collaborative projects is an operational priority. Additionally, members of the Network pursue individual and collaborative funding efforts to support their respective Cochrane activities.  

Strategic Plan Purpose and Use
This strategic plan serves as a framework to guide U.S. Network activities and decisions, including the Executive Committee and workgroup priorities, activities, and decisions. The plan will be iteratively developed as the U.S. Network progresses and identifies strategic opportunities in line with its goals. The strategic plan will be reviewed and updated annually by the Executive Committee, who may convene a strategic planning workgroup, as needed. As the strategic plan is further established, the U.S. Network will aim to identify measures and targets to monitor progress towards goals.  Iterations of this strategic plan are valid from 2019 – 2024, unless otherwise voted upon by the Executive Committee and voting members.

U.S. Network Goals
Goal 1. Advocate for evidence
Goal 2. Make evidence accessible, relevant, and useful
Goal 3. Facilitate the production of high-quality evidence 
Goal 4. Build a collaborative, effective, and sustainable network

For each goal, priority strategies are defined. The list is not intended to be comprehensive of all goal-oriented activities U.S. Network affiliates are engaged in.  Once voted in and adopted, this strategic plan will be updated to reflect initiatives* and activities for each goal.  A parallel monitoring plan will be established to monitor, evaluate, and assign responsibilities for each activity.

Goal 1. Advocate for evidence
We aim to build greater recognition, understanding, and uptake of high-quality evidence and to advocate for evidence-based decision-making in health care and public health. 

  1. Raise awareness of Cochrane and the US Network
    • Establish and grow a social media presence for the US Network
    • Plan and hold U.S.-based Cochrane conferences, workshops, and training on the production and use of Cochrane Reviews 
    • Raise awareness and create a community around the U.S. Cochrane Network, its mission, goals, members, and activities as well as the value of synthesized evidence
    • Partner to raise awareness and use of evidence in health care decision-making and public health
  2. Educate on evidence-based health care and public health and the uptake of synthesized research evidence in health decision-making and planning
    • Support Cochrane in implementation of its advocacy plan and strategy on clinical trial transparency 
  3. Build relationships with professional organizations, policymakers, consumer/patient advocacy groups, health payers, health systems, and employers
    • Plan and implement an outreach strategy for priority professional associations in the US, beginning with leveraging the U.S. Network members and their professional associations

Goal 2. Make evidence relevant, accessible, and useful
We aim to make Cochrane evidence accessible and useful to everyone in the US, including patients, researchers, policymakers, payers, and clinicians.

  1. Build capacity of users of Cochrane evidence [How to read, interpret, contextualize evidence]
    • Identify existing Cochrane training or learning resources (e.g., on systematic reviews and Cochrane resources), repurpose and tailor as needed, and disseminate
    • Survey US Network members to gain an understanding of their consumer engagement and involvement activities and capacity building needs for consumer engagement
    • Conduct a US-based workshop or conference to include capacity building workshops or training on Cochrane evidence production and use
  2. Strategically disseminate Cochrane evidence and resources
    • Develop an evidence package and dissemination plan for a selection of Cochrane reviews addressing the treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women and their newborn infants 
    • Identify systematic reviews with high relevance to the US landscape and disseminate through Network members and social media
  3. Coordinate a Cochrane Special Collection on opioid dependence and engage US Network members and stakeholders to support dissemination
    • Disseminate relevant Cochrane evidence, resources, and offerings via the US Network social media platform and website
  4. Monitor usage of Cochrane evidence in the US to inform gaps, strengths, and priorities
    • Work with Cochrane and Wiley to obtain these data and analyze them on a regular cycle

Goal 3. Facilitate the production of high-quality evidence
We aim to facilitate the production of high-quality, relevant, up-to-date systematic reviews and other synthesized research evidence to inform health care and public health decision-making in the U.S.

  1. Provide training to build capacity in the U.S. for expertise in systematic review methodology
    • Develop a U.S. Network Methods and Training Work Group that works in coordination with existing Cochrane methods groups
    • Convene U.S. Network members for a discussion on methodology research (e.g., living systematic reviews)
    • Offer virtual and in-person workshops for Cochrane author training
    • Re-brand or re-package existing training by members as Cochrane U.S. Network training
  2. Provide strategic input to Cochrane Review Group priority setting to inform per U.S. context and evidence needs
    • Develop a process for the U.S. Network to provide input to Cochrane Review Groups
    • Liaise with U.S.-based consumer groups to gain input to inform review group priority setting per U.S. context
    • Reach out to non-U.S. Review Groups to understand their relationships within the U.S. (e.g., professional associations)
    • Explore interest, need, and value for additional Review Group satellites in the U.S.

Goal 4. Build a collaborative, effective and sustainable Network
We aim to be a diverse, inclusive, and transparent network that effectively harnesses the enthusiasm and skills of our collaborators; is guided by our commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered health decision making; and establishes sustainable infrastructure and capacity.

  1. Establish supportive, transparent, and sustained infrastructure and operations for the US Network
    • Further develop the terms of reference for the US Network and Executive Committee
    • Identify and submit to a funding opportunity to define a process for collaborating on a proposal as a Network
  2. Develop resources to support US Network funding needs
    • Develop a funding and sustainability plan
    • Secure funding to support US Network infrastructure and convening, including the coordinator position and member support for attending conferences and meetings
  3. Develop relationships with funders
    • Develop a list of funders and map existing relationships among US Network members
    • Identify what key funders in the US want and need and how the US Network can be responsive

*Initiatives already underway include the formation and various stages of implementation of an Executive Committee, an Opioids Workgroup, a Consumer Engagement Workgroup, and a Data Curation Workgroup.