Making more of
Evidence Syntheses

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This webinar will present GRADE Guidance 44, which provides a structured, practical approach to using randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies of interventions (NRSIs) in evidence syntheses of health interventions. While RCTs remain the preferred source of evidence, many clinical, public health, and policy questions require consideration of observational evidence. The session will walk participants through the key principles and four-step framework proposed in the guidance, including assessing certainty of evidence, defining decision thresholds, evaluating congruency of effect estimates, and determining when and how evidence from different study designs can be integrated—or should remain separate. Real-world examples will be used to illustrate common challenges and decision points faced by reviewers informing guidelines and HTAs. The webinar is aimed at systematic reviewers, guideline developers, HTA analysts, and methodologists seeking practical, defensible approaches to combining evidence from diverse study designs using GRADE.

Speaker:

Carlos A. Cuello-Garcia, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University and a Clinical Research Officer at Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC). He is an active member of the GRADE Working Group and has contributed to multiple official GRADE guidance documents, including recent guidance on integrating randomised and non-randomised studies of interventions (guidance 44). Carlos has extensive experience in evidence synthesis, health technology assessment, and clinical guideline development, with a particular focus on certainty of evidence and decision-making frameworks. His work bridges methodological research and applied decision-making in real-world policy and regulatory contexts. He has taught and presented internationally on GRADE methods, risk of bias, and the use of observational evidence alongside randomised trials.

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 26th to 28th, 2026, 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:

• Understand the importance and principles of evidence synthesis, including systematic reviews.
• Understand how to formulate clear and focused research questions using appropriate frameworks.
• Learn how to develop a systematic review protocol following established guidelines.
• Know how to conduct comprehensive literature searches across multiple databases and sources.
• Gain knowledge of selecting relevant studies and extracting necessary data effectively.
• Understand the principles of assessing the risk of bias in different types of studies using standard tools.
• Understand the principles of both quantitative and qualitative synthesis methods.
• Be introduced to tools like GRADE to evaluate the certainty of evidence.
• Understand the application of these methods to their own research or professional practice across various sectors.
• Connect with peers and experts.

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:

• Laptop required
• A basic understanding of research methods (not limited to health research)
• An interest in learning or enhancing knowledge on systematic reviews and evidence synthesis

Places:

100 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland

Accommodation:

There is limited accommodation available on the University’s campus in Dunlin Village (walking distance from venue), please click this booking link to secure your place.

Tickets:

General admission (researchers, academia, clinicians etc): €300
Student: €200
Industry: €600
Public and patients: Please email esi@universityofgalway.ie

Schedule:

To register, click here

This two half-days (3 hours each) workshop introduces participants to the comprehensive GRADE methodology of assessing the certainty of evidence. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises, participants will learn to assess the certainty of evidence by evaluating key domains, including methodological limitations, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, and publication bias. The workshop also covers evidence upgrading criteria and provides a practical demonstration of using the GRADEpro software.

In this course, participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the basic principles of the GRADE approach and understand the individual steps in the assessment of the evidence and their impact on the strength of the recommendation
• Be able to create an evidence profile for a therapeutic intervention based on a systematic review
• Have a basic understanding of the GRADEpro GDT Software

The workshop combines interactive lectures with hands-on small–group exercises using Zoom breakout rooms and a demonstration of the GRADEpro GDT software. Evidence assessment domains are taught through a presentation followed by a practical exercise. Participants should go through the selected GRADE guidance papers provided in advance. 

Dates: 10th & 12th June 2026

Time: 10:00 – 13:00

Places: 25

Location: Online

Prices: General €100; Student €50

Prerequisites: Attendees should have 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:

Dr KM Saif-Ur-Rahman, Director of GRADE Ireland, Evidence Synthesis Methods Lead @ Evidence Synthesis Ireland

Prof. Declan Devane, Director of Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, Professor of Health Research Methodology, University of Galway

To register, click here

This webinar will demonstrate the potential for artificial intelligence tools to enhance qualitative evidence synthesis, converting labour-intensive processes into efficient, transparent, and reproducible workflows without sacrificing methodological rigour. It will explain how to read the evolving AI landscape and align tool selection to specific qualitative synthesis tasks. Participants will learn to identify appropriate AI applications by matching tool capabilities to synthesis stages — from search and screening through to thematic or framework analysis and confidence assessment. The webinar will emphasise that transparent, critically evaluated AI assistance, supported by clear reporting and reflexive practice, is essential to bridge the gap between technological possibility and trustworthy synthesis. Attendees will leave with practical tools to map AI applications across the synthesis workflow, spot opportunities for responsible AI use, and deliver qualitative syntheses that are efficient and credible.

Speaker:

Andrew Booth is Professor in Evidence Synthesis, Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) – University of Sheffield and adjunct Professor – University of Limerick. He is co-convenor of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group, a GRADE-CERQual core team member and a research associate of Evidence Synthesis Ireland/Cochrane Ireland. Andrew obtained his PhD from the University of Sheffield and has an MSc and Diploma in Librarianship (Distinction) from University of Wales, following a BA (First Class Hons). Andrew is a prolific trainer in qualitative and rapid reviews. As co-director of three evidence synthesis centres for UK National Institute for Health and Care Research he has conducted numerous realist syntheses focusing on searching for theory and for underpinning evidence. He is currently authoring the Realist Synthesis chapter for the Cochrane-Campbell Handbook of Qualitative Evidence Synthesis. In 2020 he collaborated with Evidence Synthesis Ireland to support the first Cochrane Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis. His co-authored text Systematic Approaches for a Successful Literature Review is in its 3rd edition.