Your expertise, turned into a publication.
What it is
An argument, built on the evidence.
A narrative or state-of-the-art review synthesises what is known on a clinical topic into a coherent, expert account: where the field stands, what the landmark trials and guidelines say, where the evidence conflicts, and what should happen next. Unlike a systematic review, it is not defined by an exhaustive search and pooled analysis, it is defined by the quality of its argument and the judgement behind it.
What it is built for
Formats, invited and state-of-the-art reviews, clinical updates, editorials, commentaries, and viewpoint pieces.
When, you hold expertise on a topic, an editor has asked, or a field has moved and needs a clear account, and no dataset is required.
Not for, questions that need a pooled effect estimate; those are systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which we also run.
How it works
The method, in plain terms.
Define the argument
Scope, audience, journal
Map the evidence
Landmark trials, guidelines
Structure
Sections, tables, figures
Draft
Synthesis, not summary
Balance
Conflicts stated plainly
Polish
Edit, figures, originality
How you benefit
Why authors start here.
- No dataset needed. Your clinical knowledge is the raw material; we bring the structure, the search, and the draft.
- Fast. Weeks from outline to submission, the shortest route to a publication when a deadline is fixed.
- Well cited. Reviews are widely read, widely cited, and often commissioned by editors.
- You stay the author. The argument is yours; we help you make it to ICMJE standards.
Scope the review
We agree the topic, the angle, the target journal, and its review format, or work from the editor's invitation.
Outline
We produce a section-by-section outline with planned tables and figures for your approval.
Evidence map
We run and document the targeted search and build the reference library.
Draft
We write the full draft with you, iterating on the argument and the balance of evidence.
Figures & polish
Tables, figures, a central illustration where the journal wants one, and the integrity check.
Submit & revise
We package the submission and answer reviewers with you to a decision.
Standards we work to
What separates a strong narrative review from an opinion piece.
Independent, peer-reviewed guidance on how narrative reviews should be written and judged, the standard every Cohira review is held to.
The changing landscape of atherosclerosis
Libby P · 2021
A single-author state-of-the-art review that reframed a field, the model for an invited review that gets cited.
View in journal →
SANRA
A scale for the quality assessment of narrative review articles.
Baethge C, Goldbeck-Wood S, Mertens S · 2019
The six-item scale editors and reviewers use to judge narrative reviews: justification, aims, search description, referencing, reasoning, and presentation.
View in journal →
Time to challenge the spurious hierarchy of systematic over narrative reviews?
Greenhalgh T, Thorne S, Malterud K · 2018
Why a well-argued narrative review answers questions a systematic review cannot, and what it must do to earn that standing.
View in journal →
Writing a narrative biomedical review: considerations for authors, peer reviewers, and editors
Gasparyan AY, et al. · 2011
Practical guidance on scope, search, structure, and referencing for narrative reviews that survive peer review.
View in journal →These are independent publications, shown to illustrate the standard narrative reviews are held to, they are not Cohira's work.
Pricing
One fee, from idea to publication.
The fee covers
- Protocol, and registration or ethics submission where the design requires it
- Literature mapping and a structured, referenced draft
- Journal-ready manuscript, figures, and supplements
- Journal shortlist and the full submission package
- Reviewer responses, every round, to a decision
- A named lead and a second internal reviewer
Billed separately
- Journal fees and APCs, at cost
- Database access or licences, at cost
- Optional Acceptance Guarantee, offered at quotation
Per project, never per author. Scope and timeline are fixed in the free feasibility note before you pay. Discounts & Acceptance Guarantee →
Start a conversation
Have a topic
Or an editor's invitation?
Tell us the topic and the journal. You will receive a free feasibility note, proposed angle, structure, and realistic target journals, before you commit to anything.