Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: In September 2005, the United States Cochrane Center (USCC) Director moved from Brown University (Brown) to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The USCC and the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group US Project (CEVG@US) also moved to JHU.
Objectives: To describe the relocation of the USCC as an example of issues faced in relocating an entity.
Methods: Decisions were made and implemented regarding every aspect of the relocation, from timing the move to transferring grants and other budgetary considerations, personnel, physical facilities, paper and electronic files, the USCC website and online course, equipment and supplies, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL).
Results: The physical move of personnel, equipment, supplies, and files took place in September. Requests to transfer grants were submitted to funding agencies and approved with funding remaining constant. Three Brown employees elected to move to JHU (web developer/network analyst and two CEVG systematic reviewers). Hiring new staff at JHU took from July 2005 to March 2006, and resulted in three new USCC staff and one new CEVG@US staff. Two Brown staff travelled to JHU in the interim to provide continuity, while two others remained at Brown to process specialized registers and handsearch submissions for Issue 2, 2006 of CENTRAL. The Director was joined at JHU by two new faculty, a combined USCC and CEVG@US Associate Director and a CEVG@US Co-investigator. The USCC and CEVG@US websites were transferred to JHU and updated, although transferring the online handsearching course is still in process.
Conclusions: The largest potential barrier to a successful move by the USCC was the transfer of the knowledge and history of the Center. This barrier was overcome with the hard work and dedication of the personnel who remained at Brown yet were willing to train and help new staff at JHU and the enthusiasm of new personnel to embrace the Collaboration.
Objectives: To describe the relocation of the USCC as an example of issues faced in relocating an entity.
Methods: Decisions were made and implemented regarding every aspect of the relocation, from timing the move to transferring grants and other budgetary considerations, personnel, physical facilities, paper and electronic files, the USCC website and online course, equipment and supplies, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL).
Results: The physical move of personnel, equipment, supplies, and files took place in September. Requests to transfer grants were submitted to funding agencies and approved with funding remaining constant. Three Brown employees elected to move to JHU (web developer/network analyst and two CEVG systematic reviewers). Hiring new staff at JHU took from July 2005 to March 2006, and resulted in three new USCC staff and one new CEVG@US staff. Two Brown staff travelled to JHU in the interim to provide continuity, while two others remained at Brown to process specialized registers and handsearch submissions for Issue 2, 2006 of CENTRAL. The Director was joined at JHU by two new faculty, a combined USCC and CEVG@US Associate Director and a CEVG@US Co-investigator. The USCC and CEVG@US websites were transferred to JHU and updated, although transferring the online handsearching course is still in process.
Conclusions: The largest potential barrier to a successful move by the USCC was the transfer of the knowledge and history of the Center. This barrier was overcome with the hard work and dedication of the personnel who remained at Brown yet were willing to train and help new staff at JHU and the enthusiasm of new personnel to embrace the Collaboration.