Evidence Synthesis Ireland (ESI), which hosts Cochrane Ireland, aims to make evidence syntheses more usable in every sense of the word – better designed, conducted and reported, more useable for decision-makers and more usable within health care policy and clinical practice decision making across the island of Ireland and beyond.
We provide education for researchers, clinicians, the public and policymakers who conduct or use evidence syntheses.
We build capacity in planning, doing and sharing evidence syntheses through Fellowships, workshops and scholarships.
We advance the way we plan, do and share the results of evidence synthesis by finding out how to do these steps better.
april 2025
To register, CLICK HERE Practical reflections of key lessons learnt through co-producing policy relevant maps with South African government departments at national and provincial level over
To register, CLICK HERE
Practical reflections of key lessons learnt through co-producing policy relevant maps with South African government departments at national and provincial level over the past 8 years. The presentation will highlight the co-production and approach, give an overview of projects conducted and what this has influenced our evidence-based decision making (EIDM) activities.
Speaker:
Promise M Nduku is an Evidence synthesis specialist at the Pan-African Collective for Evidence (PACE) NPC. He holds a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Johannesburg and is currently pursuing a PhD in Health economics at the same institution. He is passionate about the potential of evidence-informed decision-making to draw on the suite of evidence syntheses methodologies, and experience of responding to policy evidence needs. He specialises in conducting and supporting evidence syntheses as well as the design of institutional knowledge structures to enhance the use of evidence by decision-makers. Promise co-leads PACE’s work supporting national government decision-makers to integrate evidence in formulating and designing public policies and programmes in South Africa.
Since 2017, Promise has led 12 multi-disciplinary projects that have aimed to produce and/or support decision-makers in using systematic reviews and policy-relevant evidence maps in their policy-making processes. Promise has conducted over 30 syntheses, including systematic reviews and evidence maps and collaborations in developing policy-relevant evidence maps and responsive evidence bases with the South African Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) which informed five national policies.
In 2024, he joined the Methodological Advisory Group (MAG) supporting the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Evidence-based Public Health Methods project in developing hands-on methods guidance for evidence synthesis and evidence-based public health advice focusing on infectious disease epidemiology, prevention, and control.
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(Monday) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
ONLINE
Background: This series of workshops will provide reviewers, at the beginning of their journey in conducting a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) with a comprehensive overview of the methodology and
Background:
This series of workshops will provide reviewers, at the beginning of their journey in conducting a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) with a comprehensive overview of the methodology and methods including a Cochrane QES reviews. The series will offer insights into the development of a protocol, introducing participants to the methods of question generation, identification of included studies, data extraction and synthesis, the GRADECERQual assessment of confidence in the findings, and presentation the review for dissemination.
Aim:
The purpose of these workshops is to familarise all participants with the steps involved in conducting a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.
We have designed these workshops as a companion series to allow attendees to apply what they have learned, enabling them to gain practical experience before progressing to the next stage of the process.
Objective:
The objectives of the workshops are intended to provide participants with an understanding of the methods of QES and equip them with the practical skills needed to conduct such a syntheses effectively.
Workshop 1: will provide an Introduction to QES, including overview. We will explore how you can focus your review question and search for qualitative evidence.
Workshop 2: will highlight the methods of screening and inclusion processes including selecting studies. We will demonstrate how data are extracted for a QES and a Quality Assessment is conducted.
Workshop 3: will delve into choosing a method of synthesis, and demonstrate how to synthesisinse qualitative data and present the findings
Workshop 4: we will illustrate the process of conducting an assessment of confidence in the findings of the QES using the GRADECERQual approach, and explore methods of writing up a review for dissemination.
Learning outcomes:
The learning outcomes for participants in this series should support them to:
Teaching strategies:
The workshops will consist of a mixture of short presentations and discussions led by members of the ESI Teaching Faculty, covering each of the methods of a QES. Breakout rooms will be used for small group activities based around worked examples and exercises. These activities will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss and develop their own skills and understanding. Participants will also be provided with a reading list and additional resources.
Places: 30 places available for individuals who are resident on the island of Ireland
Overall fee: General €120; Student €60
Skill level: Introductory
Prerequisites: Knowledge of qualitative research methodologies and methods
Target Audience:
Facilitators
Prof. Pauline Meskell, Head of Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick
Dr Linda Biesty, Associate Professor (Midwifery), University of Galway
*If your type of ticket is sold out, please join the waitlist or contact us at esi@universityofgalway.ie
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(Wednesday) 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
ONLINE
This two-day workshop guides participants through the comprehensive GRADE methodology, from defining PICO questions and outcomes to creating Summary of Findings tables using GRADEpro GDT software. Through a combination of
This two-day workshop guides participants through the comprehensive GRADE methodology, from defining PICO questions and outcomes to creating Summary of Findings tables using GRADEpro GDT software. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises, participants will learn how to assess evidence certainty by evaluating key domains, including methodological limitations, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, and publication bias. The workshop also covers evidence upgrading criteria and provides practical experience in creating Summary of Findings tables for systematic reviews of healthcare interventions.
Attendees will be enabled to:
Dates: 28th & 29th April 2025
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Places: 25 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland
Location: The National University of Ireland, 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2,D02 V583
Prices: General €250; Student €140
Prerequisites: Knowledge in conducting and/or using systematic reviews as well as the basic principles of evidence-based healthcare, and the critical appraisal of research studies, especially RCTs
Skill Level: Introductory
Target Audience: Systematic review authors, guideline developers, health and social care professionals, academics, researchers, postgraduate students, decision makers, Evidence Synthesis Ireland Fellows and other professionals
Facilitators:
Prof. Declan Devane, Director of Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, Professor of Health Research Methodology, University of Galway
Dr KM Saif-Ur-Rahman, Research Fellow, University of Galway and Senior Research Methodologist, Evidence Synthesis Ireland
Philipp Kapp, Researcher, Institute for Evidence in Medicine, University of Freiburg
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28 (Monday) 10:00 am - 29 (Tuesday) 4:00 pm
The National University of Ireland, 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, D02 V583
49 Merrion Square
may 2025
Overview: Systematic reviews and evidence syntheses are powerful tools that compile and evaluate all relevant research on a particular question, providing a high-quality evidence base for decision-making. They are crucial for
Overview:
Systematic reviews and evidence syntheses are powerful tools that compile and evaluate all relevant research on a particular question, providing a high-quality evidence base for decision-making. They are crucial for informing policy, guiding practice, and identifying future research needs—not just in health but across various sectors.
Join us for our Summer School at the University of Galway from May 20th to 22nd, 2025, for a hands-on three-day summer school on “Introduction to Evidence Synthesis.” This course is tailored for beginners and those looking to refresh their skills. While the focus is on health, the methods taught are applicable in multiple fields. Through interactive lectures, discussions, and practical exercises, you’ll learn how to conduct systematic reviews and evidence syntheses that can influence research and policy decisions.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this summer school participants will:
Audience:
Beginners and those with some knowledge seeking to learn or refresh their skills in evidence synthesis, Systematic review authors, guideline developers, health and social care professionals, academics, researchers, postgraduate students, policy and decision-makers, Evidence Synthesis Ireland Fellows and other professionals, anyone interested in evidence synthesis methods.
Pre-requisites:
Places:
100 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland
Tickets:
General admission (researchers, academia, clinicians etc): €300
Student: €200
Industry: €600
Public and patients: Please email esi@universityofgalway.ie
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20 (Tuesday) 9:30 am - 22 (Thursday) 4:15 pm
Mairtin O'Tnuthail Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, University of Galway
University Road
28may2:00 pmKnowledge Translation Training Program (Online)2:00 pm ONLINE
Develop your knowledge translation (KT) plan with our KT online training. Whether you are preparing your proposal for grant submission or at the start, middle, or end of
Develop your knowledge translation (KT) plan with our KT online training. Whether you are preparing your proposal for grant submission or at the start, middle, or end of your research, this training will help you learn why and how to develop an effective KT plan. This training will help you set and meet your individual KT learning goals, give you the knowledge and skills to effectively develop your KT plan, and strengthen your grant proposals.
Date: 28th May & 24th June 2025
Time: 14.00 – 17:30 Irish Time
Places: 35 available for individuals who are resident on the island of Ireland
Fee: General €25; Student €15
Skill level: Introductory
Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, policy makers and other decision makers.
Prerequisites: None.
Teaching strategies: The workshop will consist of:
Facilitators
Dr. Sharon Straus, Director (KT Program), Executive Vice President, Clinical Programs and Chief Medical Officer, (Unity Health Toronto), Professor (Dept of Medicine, U of Toronto)
Kim Barnhardt, Senior Strategist, Communications and Partnerships (CMAJ) Canadian Medical Association Journal, Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
Jamie Boyd, Research Program Manager, Knowledge Translation Program
Dr. Gabrielle Chicoine, Post-doctoral researcher, Knowledge Translation Program
Jeanette Cooper, Research Coordinator, Knowledge Translation Program
Dr.Tina Fahim, Scientist (KT Program), Assistant Professor (U of Toronto), Knowledge Translation Program
Danielle Kasperavicius, Research Program Manager, Knowledge Translation Program
Dr. Larissa Shamseer, Post-doctoral Researcher, Knowledge Translation Program
Meghan Storey, Research Coordinator, Knowledge Translation Program
*If your type of ticket is sold out, please join the waitlist or contact us at esi@universityofgalway.ie
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(Wednesday) 2:00 pm
ONLINE
To register, CLICK HERE This webinar will consider whether general purpose AI tools and research-focused AI tools can currently help with search strategy development for systematic reviews. The webinar will
To register, CLICK HERE
This webinar will consider whether general purpose AI tools and research-focused AI tools can currently help with search strategy development for systematic reviews. The webinar will also consider how AI tools of various types might assist with search planning and study identification. The webinar will include demonstrations followed by a discussion of those tools and other tools that participants have found useful and would like to share during the meeting.
Speaker:
Julie Glanville is a qualified librarian who has worked in systematic reviews for 30 years and is currently an independent consultant focusing on information retrieval for systematic reviews. Julie is a co-manager of SuRe Info and the ISSG Search Filter Resource.
From 2008 to June 2020, Julie was Associate Director of York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) and coordinated its information and review services. Previously, Julie was Associate Director and Information Service Manager at the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York, for fourteen years. Julie is a co-author of the Cochrane Handbook chapter on searching for evidence. Julie is an active trainer providing training in various aspects of finding evidence for systematic reviews.
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(Thursday) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
ONLINE
The innovative ESI Fellowships give Fellows the opportunity to learn about evidence synthesis, with hands-on experience of how to plan, design, conduct and report an evidence synthesis. Fellows are placed virtually with world-class evidence synthesis centres and review teams in Ireland and internationally, on policy and practice relevant reviews.
We’re committed to improving how we gather, interpret, and share vast amounts of information, a process known as evidence synthesis. Our approach isn’t just about conducting research; it’s about improving the very methods we use to plan, conduct, and share the results of this process.
We work in many different research areas relevant to evidence synthesis and have a particularly strong focus on rapid reviews, knowledge translation and “studies within a review” (SWARs).
“ Reporting on health care topics can rely too much on asking experts or reporting the results of a single study…what would be much more useful to members of the public, especially when it comes to making decisions about their own health, is for people to understand how to situate health claims in the global body of evidence. “