Korean Branch
A small but keen group of authors from Korea has been involved in Cochrane reviews for several years. In 2007, under the leadership of Prof Hyeong Sik Ahn from Korea University, the first steps were taken to establish an informal network of Korean contributors as a way of promoting the Cochrane Collaboration, encouraging involvement in Cochrane activities and providing support to review authors.
A visit from Nick Royle, CEO of the Cochrane Collaboration, in July 2007 was followed in November 2007 by the first Cochrane systematic review workshop in Korea (run in partnership with the Australasian Cochrane Centre). The two-day workshop was held at Korea University in Seoul and attended by over 70 participants from a variety of academic institutions, government agencies and hospitals.
After the workshop, review authors and other interested parties (representing academia and government) came together for the inaugural meeting of the informal Korean Cochrane network. Following presentations about the Collaboration and other regional initiatives, discussion focused on future activities and priorities. Since 2007, the network has developed links with other groups involved in Cochrane activities in East Asia, and is part of the East Asia Cochrane Alliance that meets at each Cochrane Colloquium.
In August 2009, Steve McDonald and Sally Green helped conduct a second basic Cochrane review workshop. The 1½ day workshop was attended by over 50 participants and was followed up with a one-day advanced course aimed primarily at experienced authors and statisticians. The advanced course was led by Julian Higgins with support from local facilitators with expertise in statistics and GRADE.
The two workshops were timed to coincide with the launch of the Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine at Korea University and a half-day symposium on ‘Producing information for evidence-based healthcare: the role of The Cochrane Collaboration and Cochrane reviews’. The Institute was launched by the Dean of Korea University Medical College and was attended by the Presidents of the Korean Academy of Medical Science and the National Evidence Collaborating Agency and the Director of the Korea Center for Disease Control. The Korean Branch is an integral part of the new Institute, which is also directed by Prof Hyeong Sik Ahn.
The Korean Branch was formally approved by the Collaboration's Monitoring and Registration Committee in August 2010. A website for the Branch is being developed.
Contact:
Prof Hyeong Sik Ahn
Korean Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre
Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine
College of Medicine, Korea University
126-1, Anam Dong, Seong Buk Gu,
Seoul, Korea, 136-705
ahnhann@yahoo.com