The Cochrane collaboration as key player in the struggle for better and more relevant patients- and system-oriented research.

The Cochrane Collaboration represents a quite successful example of a grass roots international effort aimed at contributing the growing demand for valid and reliable information on the effects of health care intervention, eagerly sought by consumers, patients, doctors and policy makers worldwide. The Cochrane Collaboration is fully aware that part of its success is due to the originality of its founding principles and that the challenge ahead is to maintain its 'Cochrane Collaboration brand' while understanding how a mature organisation can cope with the expectations of the relevant stakeholders with whom it seeks to collaborate. In this editorial reference is made to the strategic reflections emerged from the internal review that the organisation has recently completed to guide its years ahead.