WHO Cochrane Cornell Summer Institute, Schedule

In 2024, the Institute will combine on-line training (work at your own pace) with in-person sessions at Cornell University campus. The formal program for the Institute is two weeks in length, requiring consecutive days of availability during the weeks of July 8-14 for asynchronous on-line instruction and synchronous meetings or work sessions. The week of July 29-August 2 will be in-person with workshop activities at the Cornell University Ithaca Campus. Participants are advised to plan to arrive in Ithaca on July 27 to attend an opening social event during the day on July 28, and participants are advised to depart Ithaca on August 3.

Prior to the Institute

Dates: July 1-5

Modality: On-line asynchronous, work on your own, set your own schedule.

This week, all participants work on the introductory materials, to get up to speed on Microsoft Teams, to gain access to Cochrane modules, and to get to know their systematic review team and review topic.

Week 1: Online training with several synchronous sessions

Dates: July 8-14

Modality: Online asynchronous study and synchronous live sessions

In week 1, all participants  will work independently to complete the Cochrane Interactive Learning Modules asynchronously. Teams will be encouraged to meet periodically with the team mentor to support the participants in learning the material presented in the Cochrane modules, and several synchronous sessions will be provided to support and encourage all participants to work through the online materials. 

Time required: Each of the eight modules will require 45-120 minutes. 

Topics covered by the Cochrane Interactive Learning Modules during the Summer Institute:

  • Introduction to conducting systematic reviews
  • Writing the review protocol
  • Searching for studies
  • Selecting studies and collecting data
  • Introduction to Risk of Bias
  • Analyzing the data
  • Interpreting the findings
  • Reporting the review
Week 2: Hands-on intensive training in Cochrane Methods for Systematic Reviews and the use of Evidence for Global Policy Making.

Dates: July 28-August 2.

Modality: In-person

This week, the Institute is held in person at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. All participants will participate in hands-on activities, plenaries, discussions, and group presentations. Please see below a sample schedule.

The suggested arrival day for participants is Saturday, July 27

Sunday, July 28: 

  • Welcome activity and tour of local region: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Welcome Reception: 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Monday, 29 July – Friday 02 August:

  • Daily launch session: 8:30 am
  • Session 1
  • Coffee break: 10:15 am
  • Session 2
  • Review Group meet-up
  • Lunch break: 12:00
  • Session 3
  • Session 4
  • Coffee break: 3:00 pm
  • Review group meetup
  • Round-up and discussion: 4:15 pm

Institute Dinner: Thursday August 1

Friday August 2 final day of Institute 

Saturday, August 3 is suggested departure day

Sessions include a combination of plenary, active learning workshops, work with teams on reviews to apply concepts, interactive training sessions with hands-on examples, case studies, etc. Our goal is to engage participants in an exciting and dynamic learning environment that is inclusive and supportive of all participants and that leads to open discussions and exchanges to achieve the learning outcomes of the Institute.

Topics to be covered in the Institute are delivered in a setting that provides opportunities for hands-on, small-group, interactive learning directly relevant to each review topic. The sessions are flexible to meet needs of the participants. Session topics include the following:

  • RevMan introduction
  • RevMan advanced
  • GRADE introduction
  • GRADE advanced
  • PICO and development of the question, logic models
  • Protocol Development and Registration
  • Summary of Findings Table, Introduction
  • Summary of Findings Table, Advanced
  • Epidemiology methods: effect estimates and understanding risk of bias
  • Library: search strategies/implementation
  • Library: resources at Cornell University
  • Statistical methods: meta-analysis introduction, forest plot and heterogeneity
  • Statistical methods: random effects/fixed effects, cluster randomized studies and advanced meta-analysis
  • Statistical methods: resources at Cornell University
  • Non-randomized studies in Cochrane reviews

WHO Cochrane Cornell Summer Institute, Contact Information

Patricia A. Cassano, PhD, Director, Summer Institute
The Alan D. Mathios Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences
Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical
3310 MVR Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
+1 607.255.7551 (phone)
E-mail:  summerinstitute@cornell.edu

Please visit our registration page for details on how to apply.