Table 1.

Key methodological developments in Cochrane Reviews

2014	‘Risk of bias’ tool extension for non standard randomized studies (for example, crossover and cluster trials) and non-randomized studies
2012	Introduction of the Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) standards
2011	Launch of the Cochrane Methods Innovation fund
2008	Release of version 5 of RevMan incorporating ‘Risk of Bias’ tool
	Grade profiler software (GRADEpro) introduced for ‘Summary of findings’ tables in RevMan
2002	I2 statistics measuring inconsistency in meta-analysis [22]
1996	Launch of The Cochrane Library launched by Update Software incorporating The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, The Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and The Cochrane Review Methodology Database
	Bias assessment classification system introduced for allocation concealment [27]
1994	First publication demonstration of The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
	Publication of the first edition of the Cochrane Handbook[26]
	Registration of the first Methods Groups: Statistical MG and Individual Patient Data MG
1993	Formal launch of the Cochrane Collaboration at the first Cochrane Colloquium in Oxford, UK
	Release of version 1 of Review Manager (RevMan)
1992	Formal launch of the first UK Cochrane Centre in Oxford
1988	Publication of the first in a series of overviews (meta-analyses) in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
1976	Term ‘meta-analysis’ first introduced [25]
1972	Publication of Archie Cochrane’s Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services which first drew attention to the collective ignorance about the effects of health care [1]