Issue 20 | December 2025 (next issue March 2026)

Our December newsletter is out!

As we approach the holiday season, it is important to recognise and reflect on the contributions and achievements of our members in 2025, and to renew our motivation to keep shaping our Cochrane community.

  Message from the new CEO

Dr Karla Soares-Weiser Appointed Cochrane CEO

Cochrane’s Governing Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Karla Soares-Weiser as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Karla has been acting CEO since March 2025 and previously served as Cochrane’s Editor-in-Chief from 2019. During her tenure, she led major advancements in the development and publication of evidence syntheses, including the creation of Cochrane’s first scientific strategy and significant improvements to editorial workflows. Under her leadership, editorial processes have been optimized, reducing the time to publish high-priority systematic reviews and ensuring timely, reliable evidence to support decision-making.

Karla's message to ECPN members:

"Your curiosity, courage, and commitment to evidence are what will move our field forward — keep going. I count on you!"

ECPN member contributions

Amin Sharifan Recognized with the Bill Silverman Prize

We are pleased to share that Amin Sharifan has been awarded the Bill Silverman Prize in recognition of his contributions to evidence-based practice.

About the Work:
Amin’s efforts focus on enhancing inclusivity in Cochrane’s activities, reflecting Goal 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to reduce inequalities. His work is helping to build a more equitable and representative evidence ecosystem for researchers and practitioners worldwide.

Amin’s Reflections:
“Dr. Silverman was a pioneer in evidence-based medicine. It is both humbling and an honor to receive the Bill Silverman Prize and to join the distinguished group of previous laureates whose work has shaped, and continues to shape, evidence-based practice.”

Cochrane Leadership Meeting 2025

Our ECPN members, Soumya Shivananda, and Elpida Vanzoulaki, Chair of ECPN, represented the network at the Cochrane Leadership Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, in October 2025. The event brought together 170 selected Cochrane leaders from diverse regions, groups, and career stages to develop strategies for addressing Cochrane’s most pressing global challenges.

Key discussions focused on AI management, governance structures, and strategic planning for the coming years. The meeting also offered a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow leaders, share updates from across Cochrane, and contribute to shaping the global direction of Cochrane’s work.

Ana Beatriz Pizarro and Etienne Ngeh at ESIC 2025

Our ECPN , Ana Beatriz Pizarro and Etienne Ngeh represented the Early Career Professionals Network at the Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative (ESIC) meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa in June 2025. The meeting brought together more than 200 participants from around the world to discuss how to strengthen and sustain the global evidence synthesis ecosystem. Ana and Etienne contributed the perspectives of early- and mid-career researchers, ensuring that the next generation of evidence leaders is included in shaping this shared vision.

Join Cochrane ECPN

Join our network!

Application deadline: January 15

The Cochrane Early Career Professionals Steering Group is now inviting applications for five open positions on the Steering Committee.

Positions available:

• 1 Newsletter Coordinator

• 1 Social Media / Content Creator

• 3 Members who will lead a project within the group

To apply, please send a letter (maximum 1000 words) to ecp@cochrane.org that includes:

• Your background and any previous involvement with Cochrane (if applicable)

• Your motivation for joining the group and a project idea you would like to lead

  • (A project proposal is not required for the Newsletter Coordinator or Social Media/Content Creator roles.)

More information about our scope can be found here: Cochrane ECPN

For any questions, contact ecp@cochrane.org.

Ongoing ECPN Projects

Help Shape the Future of Cochrane at FOR2026

The Future of Open Research – Reliable, Responsible, Equitable is the theme of the FOR2026 conference, organized by the Technical University of Munich and supported by Open Science Studies and the European Research Council (ERC).

We are excited to share that our abstract has been selected for FOR2026 and will present our work and mission during both the poster session and a plenary panel for early career researchers and we need your input to make it even stronger.

The Cochrane Early Career Professionals Network (ECPN) is running a short survey to gather the experiences and perspectives of past and current Cochrane members. Your feedback will help strengthen collaboration, support leadership development, and amplify early-career voices across the Cochrane community.

Participate either by clicking the link or by scanning the QR code
Cochrane Early Career Professionals Network (ECPN) Reflective Case Study Questionnaire FOR2026 – Munich Conference

Other News

Cochrane and Partners Release Joint Statement on Responsible AI

Cochrane, the Campbell Collaboration, JBI, and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence have issued a joint position statement on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in evidence synthesis. This collaboration aims to guide the ethical and transparent use of AI while safeguarding research integrity.

The statement supports the RAISE recommendations (Responsible use of AI in Evidence SynthEsis), outlining expectations for transparent reporting, accountability, and maintaining methodological rigor. It emphasizes human oversight and clear documentation when AI is used and encourages AI developers to align with these principles.

“This statement marks a pivotal moment for the evidence synthesis community,” said Ella Flemyng, Cochrane’s Head of Editorial Policy and Research Integrity. “It sets a shared standard for responsible AI use, ensuring AI enhances, rather than undermines, the evidence we produce.”

Published across Cochrane, Campbell, JBI, and Environmental Evidence, the statement reflects a unified commitment to responsible innovation in evidence synthesis.

To read more : 

Position statement on artificial intelligence (AI) use in evidence synthesis across Cochrane, the Campbell Collaboration, JBI and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.ED000178).

Have you recently published a paper, presented at a conference, written a blog, or done something amazing that you want to share? Send us a brief description, your Twitter handle (optional), and a headshot (if you wish) to ecp@cochrane.org to be featured in our upcoming newsletter.