The Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group welcomes enquiries from prospective authors. We do not advertise topics for new Cochrane Reviews. Instead we recommend that you browse through the existing CIDG Cochrane Reviews (including registered titles, published protocols, and ongoing and published reviews) to identify a topic that has not been reviewed.

Some important points to consider:

• Make sure that your proposed title meets the Group's scope, that it has not already been covered in another Cochrane Review, and that you are familiar with Cochrane Reviews and The Cochrane Collaboration.
• Be aware that undertaking a Cochrane Review is a big commitment and a time-consuming process.
• At least two authors are needed to prepare a review.
• We do not usually support reviews completed as part of the requirements for an academic qualification.
• The support of the editorial team in producing your review is conditional upon your agreement to publish the protocol, finished review and subsequent updates in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). By completing this form you undertake to publish this review in the CDSR before publishing elsewhere (concurrent publication in other journals may be allowed in certain circumstances with prior permission of the editorial team).

Four types of systematic review may be prepared as Cochrane Reviews:

• Intervention review
• Diagnostic test accuracy review
• Methodology review
• Overview of reviews

At present, the CIDG is accepting title registration forms for intervention reviews and overviews of reviews. The CIDG is supporting the development of one diagnostic test accuracy review, and the option to register more diagnostic titles will be added at a later date. Methodology reviews are prepared by the Cochrane Methodology Review Group.

How to register a title

To register a title, complete the title registration form (click here to download Word file) and email it to the Managing Editor, Anne-Marie Stephani (Anne-Marie.Stephani@liv.ac.uk).

What happens next?

You will receive an email confirmation that CIDG has received your title registration form. If the form is complete, it will be forwarded to at least two Editors. The Editors will review the application and indicate whether the review will be registered. Topics will be assessed on their relevance to achieving the Millennium Development Goals,whether policy makers have indicated they are a priority, and whether there are any trials published. We will also assess the capacity of the review team to carry out the review. We use this in an internal priority setting process, which means there will be some title registration requests that we decline.

Completing and submitting your form is not a guarantee that your review will be accepted.

Within two weeks, the Managing Editor will email you to let you know if the title has been accepted or declined. If accepted, the Managing Editor will follow up with information on how to get started on the review and to agree timelines.