Research Synthesis
Research Division Leaders: Professor Caroline Crowther, Professor Jodie Dodd, Ms Philippa Middleton, Dr Rosalie Grivell
The Research Synthesis Division conducts, promotes and supports the preparation and updating of high quality systematic reviews of the existing evidence on questions of relevance to women and babies in Australia, regionally in South East Asia, and internationally.
The Division was successful in securing funding to support the Australasian Review Authors Group for the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Collaborative Review Group from the commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing for the next three years, 2009-2011.
Funding was obtained through the NHMRC to undertake an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis on the use of magnesium sulphate in women at risk of very preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus. This patient level analysis will clarify optimal gestational age, timing prior to preterm birth that magnesium sulphate should be given, the best dose and regimen to use, and which women are most likely to benefit. The study titled "Magnesium sulphate in women at risk of preterm birth for fetal neuroprotection - an individual patient data (IPD)" is funded for two years, 2010-2011.
The Division's Australian review authors contributed to 89/324 (28%) of all the Pregnancy and Childbirth reviews and 26/101 (26%) of the protocols published in the Cochrane Library (as of Issue 4, 2009). Over the past year, members of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Australian Review Authors Group were involved in preparing 12 titles, 12 protocols, 13 new reviews and 11 updated reviews, considerably exceeding key performance indicators.
The Division actively monitored the progress of over 150 Australian review authors, offering support and encouragement at key stages of review preparation. The ARCH research leaders and other project investigators with grant funding from the Department of Health and Ageing provided intensive support to most protocols, reviews, and updates being prepared for publication and in addition provided substantial support to other Cochrane review groups and to the South East Asia - Optimising Reproductive and Child Health In Developing Countries(SEA-ORCHID) project.
