Symposia: #CochraneTech, Methods and KT

This year the #CochraneTech symposium returns, and there are plans to offer a Methods Symposium and a Knowledge Translation (KT) Symposium. In a change from previous Cochrane colloquia, these symposia are integrated within the main Colloquium program and will take place on the morning of Wednesday 26 October.

The symposia will run in parallel; workshops and oral sessions will not be scheduled during this time. Each symposia has an organising group responsible for setting the themes, speakers and format for the session.

How to register
There is no separate registration system for these symposia and no additional charge. Registered Colloquium delegates will be able to sign up to attend the symposium of their choice during the 'workshop and meeting sign-up' period from mid-September.

#CochraneTech Symposium

The new ecosystem for evidence synthesis

Date: Wednesday 26 October, 9:00-13:00
Venue: Emerald A, Grand Hilton
Contact: Tom Cracknell

Cochrane’s technological innovations are set to transform the way evidence for health care is created and used. The 2016 #CochraneTech Symposium will explore how Cochrane is using its technology to help prepare systematic reviews more efficiently, but also better deliver outputs to our end users.

The New Cochrane Review Ecosystem infographic provides a comprehensive overview of the entire lifecycle of a Cochrane Review, including the people, processes, and systems involved. The infographic visually represents how Cochrane communities, process, applications and data stores are converging in new and innovative ways to help Cochrane further its mission; helping Cochrane to scale, to produce more high-quality evidence for health care decision making, and tackling tomorrow’s challenges so Cochrane can remain competitive and relevant.

Since the inaugural #CochraneTech Symposium in Québec City in 2013, several ambitious technological strategies have been pursued by Cochrane, and we welcome you to join us in exploring this new ecosystem for evidence synthesis in Seoul in 2016. We’ve prepared an exciting morning of fast and fun presentations and discussion, centred around how Cochrane is leveraging its technology. We will focus on six thematic areas – including some new announcements – and a closing panel Q&A:

Changing how Cochrane stores and manages its contentChris Mavergames, Alex Garcia Castro, Gert van Valkenhoef

  • Linked Data
  • Review DB

Improving production efficiency using technologyJames Thomas

  • Evidence Pipeline

Changing the review production processJulian Elliott, Ruth Foxlee

  • New Production Models
  • Centralised Search

Increasing production capacityAnna Noel-Storr, Linn Brandt

  • Cochrane Crowd
  • Task Exchange

Coffee Break

Revolutionising the authoring infrastructureGert van Valkenhoef, Ida Wedel-Heinen, Gordon Dooley, Anneliese Arno

  • RevMan Web
  • CRS Web
  • Covidence
  • EPPI-Reviewer

Improving the output for usersHarriet MacLehose, Juliane Ried, Charlotte Pestridge, Miranda Cumpston

  • Cochrane Library
  • Translations
  • Cochrane Innovations
  • Cochrane Training

Panel Q&A: David Tovey, Chris Mavergames, Charlotte Pestridge, Ruth Foxlee, James Thomas, Anna Noel-Storr

Methods Symposium

Living Systematic Reviews

Date: Wednesday 26 October, 9:00-13:00
Venue: Grand Hilton Seoul (Colloquium venue)
Contact: Annie Synnot

Living systematic reviews, as online summaries of healthcare research that are updated as new research becomes available, offer exciting possibilities in the new evidence ecosystem. Momentum is building around the living systematic review concept: a number of approaches are being piloted and Cochrane is at the forefront of these efforts.

Living systematic reviews differ from traditional systematic reviews in several ways that have important implications for review methods and processes, affecting authors, editors and publishers. At this symposium, we will explore what living systematic reviews are, and how they might work within Cochrane.

Key sessions will focus on:

  • living systematic review methods (what study identification looks like; and the statistical and methodological implications) 
  • living systematic review processes (production implications for authors and editors; and solving the puzzle of publishing a Cochrane living systematic review)
  • case study of the model being piloted in the first Cochrane LSR pilots

We will finish the symposium by inviting participants to take part in a facilitated discussion to help shape the future of LSRs within Cochrane.

Speakers and facilitators

  • Anneliese Synnot, Monash University
  • Elie Akl, American University of Beirut
  • Georgia Salanti, University of Bern
  • Harriet MacLehose, Cochrane Editorial Unit
  • James Thomas, University College London
  • Joanne McKenzie, Monash University
  • Julian Elliott, Monash University
  • Julian Higgins, University of Bristol
  • Mark Simmonds, University of York
  • Steve McDonald, Monash University
  • Tari Turner, Monash University

Knowledge Translation (KT) Symposium

Date: Wednesday 26 October, 9:00-13:00

Venue: Grand Hilton Seoul (Colloquium venue)

Contact: Chris Champion

In 2016 Cochrane is embarking on the development of a Knowledge Translation (KT) Strategy, which will inform, facilitate and coordinate KT activities within Cochrane. We hope this strategy will scope knowledge translation activities for Cochrane, build on the Strategy to 2020 goals and provide a framework and co-ordination to support those who are undertaking knowledge translation activities in Cochrane. This framework will guide our knowledge translation work and ensure quality of outputs. We hope to establish mechanisms for better coordination of knowledge translation work within Cochrane so that organisational learning in this area flows through Cochrane.

In this symposium we will be presenting the current draft of Cochrane’s KT strategy. There will be brief presentations on the work around the strategy, an opportunity for discussion and input into further development of the strategy and the implementation plans accompanying it and what it will mean for knowledge translation in Cochrane.

For more information on the KT strategy developments to date, please see the update paper submitted to the Cochrane Steering Group.

Draft agenda:

Organisers: Chris Champion (Central Executive), Rachel Churchill, Sally Green, and Denise Thomson (Co-Chairs of the KT Strategy working group)

AIM OF SYMPOSIUM: To introduce the draft Cochrane Knowledge Translation Strategy and seek feedback and input into its themes and activities.

09:00 – 09:10

Welcome and introductions

09:10 – 10:30

A series of 12 minute presentations on KT from the perspective of different audiences to set the scene and provide context for discussion of our KT strategy.

Speakers and perspectives as follows:

  • Jeremy Grimshaw - KT for clinicians
  • Richard Morley - KT for consumers/ citizens
  • John Lavis - KT for policy makers
  • Maureen Dobbins - KT for Public Health
  • Davina Ghersi - KT for researchers, guideline developers and research funders
  • Agustín Ciapponi - KT in LMICs and in non-English settings

10:30 – 11:00 Mid-Morning Break

11:00 – 11:15

Presentation of the draft KT strategy and introduction to the consultation exercise to follow.

11:15 – 12:15

Consultation exercise.

Participants will rotate through six stations (10 minutes per station) where they will be able to engage in facilitated discussion around each of the 6 themes identified in the KT strategy.

12:15 – 12:30

Next steps and wrap up