COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END)

Lavis, John N | $1,100,000

Ontario McMaster University 2020 CIHR Operating Grant


The science about how to prevent and manage COVID‑19 and its spill-over effects on society is changing rapidly. Summaries of the best available science (which we call evidence syntheses) are the best place to turn when making decisions about public-health measures (e.g., wearing masks), clinical management (e.g., prescribing drugs), health-system arrangements (e.g., making the most of virtual doctor visits), and economic and social responses (e.g., adjusting schools and workplaces). COVID-END will bring together: 1) 25+ Canadian evidence-synthesis teams; 2) leaders of key Canadian initiatives that support the use of science by citizens, service providers and policymakers; 3) diverse citizen partners from across Canada; 4) Canadian professional bodies; and 5) policymakers and leaders from Canadian governments and health authorities. COVID-END will: 1)prepare and update evidence syntheses at the request of Canadian decision-makers in timelines ranging from 4 hours to 10 days; 2)maintain an inventory of the best evidence syntheses for COVID‑19 decisions to ensure that Canadian decision-makers have available at all times the most updated summarized science; 3)work with Canadian decision-makers to ensure that their most urgent questions are prioritized and responded to by the most appropriate team in a timely way and that these decision-makers have the capacity to find and use the available science in their decision-making; 4)keep alert to emerging issues where evidence syntheses may be needed in the future; and 5)work with Canadian and global partners to reduce duplication and enhance coordination in the evidence response to COVID-19. COVID-END will undertake (or co-create) its work in close partnership with citizens and with the decision-makers who pose questions and whose existing processes we need to intersect with. COVID-END will disseminate and support the use of its work both directly and through many existing initiatives.

Avec un financement du Gouvernement du Canada

Please complete this short survey to help us understand our impact. Thank you!

Donnez votre avis