The Complex Reviews Synthesis Unit (CRSU)
Published: 28 August 2024
The CRSU is a group of researchers and experts who are skilled at delivering the best standard of evidence through identifying, evaluating, and combining data from existing research to help tackle complex health and social care issues.
Who are we?
The Complex Reviews Synthesis Unit (CRSU) is a group of researchers and experts who are skilled at delivering the best standard of evidence through identifying, evaluating, and combining data from existing research to help tackle complex health and social care issues. Led by Professor Olivia Wu, the CRSU is a collaboration between Cochrane and the universities of Glasgow, Leicester, and York, bringing together leading experts in evidence synthesis. Since its inception, the unit has received over £6m in funding from NIHR through the Complex Reviews Support Unit (2015-2023) and Evidence Synthesis Group (2023-2028).
What do we do?
The CRSU has previously served as a methodological support unit for NIHR-funded evidence synthesis research, including Cochrane reviews, providing advice on and supporting the conduct of complex reviews and analysis. Work here included designing mixed-method evidence synthesis approaches to address complex research questions and supporting advanced meta-analysis of multi-level data structures (including individual participant data). The unit now focuses on producing evidence syntheses, commissioned by agencies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the UK National Screening Committee, that are intended to directly inform health policy decision-making.
In addition to research and advisory work, the CRSU also delivers training in various aspects of evidence synthesis. This has ranged from workshops on ‘Asking the right question’ to ‘Dealing with heterogeneity in network meta-analysis’. Over the years, the unit has also developed a suite of user-friendly open-source online apps for evidence synthesis: MetaPairwise (pairwise meta-analysis”, MetaInsight (network meta-analysis), MetaDTA (diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) meta-analysis), DTA-Primer (learning tool for DTA meta-analysis), MetaBayesDTA (Bayesian DTA meta-analysis), and MetaImpact (learning tool on impact of future studies on current evidence).
Get involved: work with us
The CRSU is a collaborative group keen to expand its network. The unit has expertise in the following areas:
- Systematic review of a wide range of topics across healthcare, social care, and public health
- Information retrieval using automated tools and critical appraisal
- Pairwise meta-analysis, network meta-analysis, and component network meta-analysis
- Diagnostic test accuracy reviews and prognostic reviews
- Meta-analysis of epidemiological data, time-to-event outcomes and individual participant data
- Meta-ethnography and realist synthesis
- Living systematic reviews
- Data visualisation of evidence synthesis results (static and dynamic) for presentation of data, facilitate interpretation and communication to technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Economic evaluations informed by evidence synthesis
If you would like to collaborate on any form evidence synthesis research, please contact Alieda McKinney.
First published: 28 August 2024
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