Plenary Details

From static reviews to a learning and living ecosystem.

8^th December 2026.

Amir Qaseem (American College of Physicians, USA)
Firmaye Bogale (Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ethiopia)

Opening keynote speech will focus on the failure of the current system of classical review and how the future system of living and learning ecosystem could improve both evidence synthesis and primary research. It will be followed by a panel discussion in which panelists respond to the keynote presentation from their respective perspectives focusing on practical examples and solutions.

Philippe Ravaud (Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), Paris Cité University Sorbonne Paris North University, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAe); France)

• Methods perspective (Laurenz Mahlanza-Langer; Pan-African Collective for Evidence NPC (PACE); South Africa)
• Evidence intermediary perspective (Rhona Mijumbi; the Africa Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation, Makerere University College of Health Sciences oin Kampala, Uganda)
• Policy-maker perspective (Tamille Sales Dias; National School of Public Administration (ENAP), Brazil)

• Real word evidence perspective (Rafael Vieira; the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal)
• Funders perspective (Isabel Fletcher; Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom)

Building Fairer Evidence Ecosystems Together.

10^th December 2026

Jordi Pardo Pardo, University of Ottawa, Canada
Yemisi Takwoingi, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Evidence synthesis and guideline development increasingly recognize the importance of equity, inclusion, co-production, and partnerships. However, many challenges remain in ensuring that evidence ecosystems are truly representative, participatory, and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.

This plenary will move beyond theoretical discussions to focus on practical solutions and real-world experiences. Through short reflections from panelists and an interactive discussion, the session will explore how evidence organizations can foster meaningful participation, address power imbalances, strengthen partnerships, and create more equitable evidence production and use.

The panel includes speakers from diverse backgrounds:

• Juan Franco (Evidence Synthesis Unit Lead / Cochrane Governing Board Member, Heinrich-Heine-University-Düsseldorf) Germany
• Joanne Khabsa (AUB GRADE Center Coordinator, American University Of Beirut, Lebanon)
• Nasreen Jessani (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
• Euphrasia Ebai-Atuh Ndi (Ministry Of Secondary Education, Cameroon/ Cameroon Consumer Service Organisation (CamCoSO)