Welcome to the Author Digest, March 2026

We hope you find it helpful.

This digest goes out to all active Cochrane authors and will continue to be sent to authors who are opted in. Please review your communication preferences in your Cochrane Account and ensure you are opted in to communications.

Contents

1. Cochrane launches webinar series on GRADE methodology

Sign up for our eight-part webinar series designed to help you understand and apply the GRADE framework in evaluating the certainty of evidence in their systematic reviews. Led by experts from the GRADE Working Group and the Cochrane GRADEing Methods Group, the webinars will deliver comprehensive training on the principles and practical application of GRADE.

2. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Prognosis Research and Prediction Models: Draft chapters now online!

Interested in methods for conducting a systematic reviews of prognosis research and prediction models? The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Prognosis Research and Prediction Models describes the process of preparing and maintaining systematic reviews of the three types of (primary) prognosis studies: studies on overall prognosis, on prognostic factors, and on prediction models. The Handbook has been produced by the Cochrane Prognosis Methods Group - Senior editors: Moons KGM and Riley RD; Associate editors: Damen JAAG, Hooft L, Iorio A, Skoetz N, and Williams K.

View draft chapters by logging in with a Cochrane account. More draft chapters will be added when available.

3. Select AI tools to evaluate in our platform study

Cochrane has launched an innovative study to test whether artificial intelligence tools can support or enhance evidence synthesis. We only have scope to evaluate two, and so a selection process was required. Here, we outline that process and demonstrate what Cochrane values when deciding whether to use an AI tool for evidence synthesis. Following this, we announced which tools were selected, and what the next steps will be.

4. Changes to our policy on updating Cochrane reviews

We are making a small but important change to Cochrane’s editorial policy on review updates. Previously, updates could only be undertaken if at least one author of the previous version was an author on the update; if the authorship team was entirely new, they had to start a new protocol.

Going forward, an entirely new team will be able to update an existing review without creating a new protocol, provided there are no significant changes to scope or methods. Authors will still need to secure approval from the previous author team to embark on the update (confirming the scope and methods), and a Changes in Authorship form must be signed by all original and new authors. Documentation demonstrating the previous team’s agreement to hand over the review should be submitted at update proposal stage.

Cochrane’s Publisher, Wiley, has confirmed that, with appropriate attribution and documentation, reuse of material between versions is acceptable, meaning that the requirement for a continuing author is no longer necessary. This change aims to reduce unnecessary process barriers while maintaining transparency and appropriate author oversight.

5. AI-related interests: Update to Conflict of Interest policy and Declaration of Interest form

Cochrane’s Conflict of interest (COI) policy for Cochrane Library content (2020) and the associated Declaration of Interest (DOI) form have been extended to include interests related to artificial intelligence (AI).

Authors must now declare all financial or non-financial interests related to AI platforms and AI-enabled systems or tools used in the conduct of their review or the preparation of the manuscript, and indicate whether they are directly relevant to the topic of the review content.

Examples are provided in a new ‘AI-related interests’ subheading added to the COI policy. Additionally, an updated DOI form is now available and will be required for all submissions beginning Monday, 4 May.

These updates align the COI policy with the new RevMan subheading for ‘Disclosure of artificial intelligence use’, which has been mandatory for intervention reviews submitted from 5 January and will be mandatory for all other review types at pre-submission stage beginning 4 May.

Authors are reminded that while all interests must be declared, only those interests that are directly relevant to the subject of the review may constitute a potential conflict. Potential conflicts will be managed in accordance with the existing authorship, contribution, and conflict of interest requirements of the COI policy.

6. Upcoming Methods Support Unit web clinic

The next MSU web clinic is open for sign-up. The April clinic focuses on managing review scope using tools within RevMan Web. Don’t forget - if you sign-up, you will automatically be sent a recording of the session afterwards.
Assisting the management of scope using tools within RevMan Web: Tuesday 14 April: 10am UTC. Check time in your time zone.

7. Reminder: Subheading changes for diverse Cochrane review types in May

Last year, Cochrane introduced new review subheadings for the following review types: diagnostic test accuracy, methodology, overview, prognosis, and qualitative evidence synthesis. Switching to the new subheadings is currently optional for these review types; however, from 4 May 2026, these review types will be updated in RevMan to include the new subheadings, unless they are already in editorial (e.g. submitted, under peer review, under revision).
If you are planning your submission after 4 May, or if you think you might miss a submission deadline around this time, it may be helpful to switch to the new subheadings now. To switch to the new subheadings, you can use the new button, ‘update to latest heading structure,’ available on the right side of the RevMan Dashboard. For further details regarding these changes, please visit this page and the RevMan Knowledge Base.

8. Reminder: New word limits for reviews and protocols

From 1 July, Cochrane will be introducing word limits for our reviews, updates, and protocols, to help keep our evidence focused, concise, and more accessible for readers. We will be holding two webinars to support authors in writing more focused and concise reviews. The first (14 April 2026) will explore how tools within RevMan Web can aid in the planning and structuring of your review to manage scope. Register for the webinar here, or find out more about the introduction of word limits.

9. Publication route for NIH-funded authors

Wiley have clarified the publication route for Cochrane authors subject to the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy, the U.S. government mandate for researchers in receipt of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including NIH employees.

The policy applies to peer-reviewed articles accepted for publication on or after 1 July 2025, whose research has been wholly or partially funded by the NIH. This requirement applies regardless of when the NIH award from which the article resulted was funded.

Wiley have confirmed that the route to compliance for affected NIH-funded authors publishing in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is for authors to a) select a Gold OA license for publication and b) submit the associated article processing charge (APC). First authors from Research4Life Groups A and B may still be eligible for an APC waiver; please see details here.

10. New on the Covidence Blog: How we decide what AI to release (and what to hold back)

At Covidence, we’re constantly exploring how automation can meaningfully reduce the workload of evidence synthesis without compromising the integrity of your review.

In our latest blog post, we take you behind the scenes of how we evaluate AI features before they ever reach your workflow. From promising models that don’t make the cut to carefully validated tools that do, this article is a must read!

👉 Read the full article here

11. Top tips for Cochrane Authors

Author names can be changed directly in your Cochrane Account, and this change will sync over to your name in RevMan.

Author affiliations are set up on a review-by-review basis and can be edited directly in RevMan by following these instructions.

Author list or byline changes can be made by contacting Cochrane Support.

Contact us

If you have any questions about any of the above items, please contact us at support@cochrane.org

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