About Cochrane
Cochrane: A Global Independent Network of Health Researchers, Professionals, Patients and Carers
Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. The organization was founded in 1993 by Sir Iain Chalmers and colleagues with the aim of promoting evidence-based healthcare. Cochrane has since grown to become a leading voice in the field of health research and evidence-based medicine.
The organization's mission is to promote evidence-informed health decision-making by producing high-quality systematic reviews that summarize the best available evidence on a particular topic. Cochrane's systematic reviews are widely recognized as the gold standard for evaluating healthcare interventions.
Cochrane has over 11,000 members from more than 130 countries around the world. These members include researchers, clinicians, patients and carers who work together to produce high-quality systematic reviews that inform healthcare policy and practice.
One of Cochrane's key strengths is its independence. The organization does not accept funding from commercial sources or governments with vested interests in particular healthcare interventions or policies. This ensures that Cochrane's research is unbiased and free from conflicts of interest.
Cochrane also places a strong emphasis on patient involvement in its research activities. Patients are involved at every stage of the review process – from identifying research questions to interpreting results – ensuring that their perspectives are taken into account when making decisions about healthcare interventions.
In addition to producing systematic reviews, Cochrane also provides training and support for researchers who want to conduct their own systematic reviews or use existing ones in their work. The organization also advocates for greater transparency in clinical trials data sharing so that all relevant information about healthcare interventions can be made available to those who need it.
Overall, Cochrane plays an important role in promoting evidence-based medicine around the world. Its commitment to independence, patient involvement and high-quality research make it a trusted source of information for healthcare professionals, policymakers and patients alike.
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