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Welcome to the Author Digest, November 2025 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.
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Contents Call for AI Tool proposals
Help shape Cochrane’s next Patient and Public Involvement Strategy!
Latest articles in Methods and Statistics Tutorials series
Open Access (OA) requirements for grant-funded reviews
Tool to assess risk of bias for network meta-analyses in published systematic reviews of healthcare interventions
Methods Support Unit web clinic
Word limits: what's changing and when
Covidence
Top tips
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1. Call for AI Tool proposals
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Cochrane is seeking AI developers to join a pilot programme aimed at transforming evidence synthesis. We’ll be evaluating tools to enhance key stages of the evidence synthesis lifecycle, starting with screening and data extraction. If you’re building AI solutions for evidence synthesis, we want to hear from you!
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2. Help shape Cochrane's next Patient and Public Involvement Strategy!
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We’re working together to shape Cochrane’s next Patient and Public Involvement Strategy, and we’d love your input! Our Patient and Public Network Executive has created a survey to better understand who is currently involved with Cochrane, what support is needed and what barriers exist in involvement with Cochrane and evidence synthesis, and how we can make our work more inclusive and accessible. The survey is available in multiple languages, and the deadline is 19 December 2025.
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3. Latest articles in Methods and Statistics Tutorials series
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Four new articles have been published in Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods as part of the Methods and Statistics Tutorials series. This series provides guidance on the common methods and statistics issues faced by systematic reviewers. Tutorials are open access and include a link to a micro-learning module.
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4. Open Access (OA) requirements for grant-funded reviews
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Important Reminder: Open Access (OA) Requirements for Grant-Funded Reviews Under our standard publication license, reviews become freely available to read 12 months after publication. If your review is funded by a grant that requires immediate free global access to the version of record, it will need to be published under Gold Open Access (OA). To meet the costs of Gold OA, please ensure that the Article Processing Charge (APC) is included in your funding application or budget. Please note that Cochrane is unable to cover APCs, and Wiley cannot waive these fees.
To avoid delays or complications, we strongly recommend that you: - Carefully review the OA requirements of any grant you receive.
- Confirm that APC costs are accounted for in your funding.
- Let us know as early as possible which OA license you require to ensure a smooth publication process.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter!
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5. Tool to assess risk of bias for network meta-analyses in published systematic reviews of healthcare interventions
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Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a method for comparing three or more interventions in a single analysis by combining both direct and indirect evidence across a network of studies. A systematic review can include one or more NMA; however, there may be limitations in the conduct of an NMA that could introduce bias. The new Risk of Bias in Network Meta-Analysis (RoB NMA) tool facilitates the assessment of the risk of bias in individual NMAs that were conducted within a published systematic review of healthcare interventions. Read more about the RoB NMA tool here.
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6. Upcoming Methods Support Unit web clinics
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The next two MSU web clinics are open for sign-up. The November clinic focuses on Individual Participant Data (IPD) in meta-analysis. The December clinic focuses on planetary health. Don’t forget - if you sign-up, you will automatically be sent a recording of the session afterwards.
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7. Word limits: what's changing and when
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To help make our reviews and protocols more focused and impactful, we are bringing in a word limit. These limits will help keep our evidence focused, concise, and more accessible for readers. What’s new? - Reviews and updates will have a maximum of 12,000 words.
- Protocols will have a limit of 6,000 words.
When does this apply? The new limits will come into effect from mid-2026. However, if you’re drafting now, please keep them in mind! Manuscripts over the limit will not be accepted once the change takes effect. We know this is a big shift and that adapting to a word limit will take planning and adjustment. We’re developing guidance and support to help you meet the requirements without losing clarity or completeness. We’ll be sharing more details soon, so make sure you keep an eye on future digests for more information.
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8. Covidence data extraction
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Learn how to create and edit a Data Extraction 1 Template step-by-step using our newest features. Perfect for new and experienced users, this session shows how our template works for both quantitative and qualitative designs. See the finished product in action! Watch the recording now
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9. Top tips for Cochrane Authors
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Did you know RevMan has built-in project management tools to help you and co-authors complete all steps for your review? Guidance for how to complete each task is linked, and you can assign tasks to co-authors. Learn more about Milestones and Tasks in RevMan.
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