Where We Are Going

Science is moving faster than ever. Every day, thousands of new studies are published across medicine, public health, psychology, and countless other fields. Each one could contain valuable insights, but finding, understanding, and applying them to real-world decisions is harder than it should be.

Today, the “gold standard” for pulling all this research together is the meta-analysis (and sometimes research synthesis, like the good folks over at Cochrane). This process takes months, sometimes years, to complete. And by the time it’s done, new studies have already come out that could change the results. That means policymakers, clinicians, and researchers are often working with information that’s already out of date (like our famous Schuylkill Expressway immediately after construction).

We think there’s a better way.

Our next big step is to create a tool that works like a tireless research assistant: one that never stops. It will:

• Keep reading new studies the moment they’re published. This means we won’t miss important findings just because they came out after a report was finished.
• Pull out the key points from each study — what was tested, who was involved, and what happened. That way, we can quickly see the most important information without having to sift through hundreds of pages.
• Put the results from different studies together right away. This lets us spot patterns across the research and update our understanding as soon as new evidence arrives.
• Figure out what’s causing what, not just what’s connected. This helps us tell whether a change in one thing actually leads to a change in another, rather than relying on coincidence.
• Let people test “what if” scenarios. For example: “What if this approach was used with younger people?” or “What if we filled in this missing information?” These tests can help predict outcomes before time and money are spent in the real world.

Together, these steps will turn the way we use science from a slow, one-time process into a fast, current, and ready-to-help approach to making better decisions.

In short, we’re moving from static, one-time reports to a living system that updates itself and can predict how new research might change what we know.

This is a big leap forward for PubTrawlr. Up until now, our tools have focused on finding, organizing, and summarizing research. The new platform will go much further. It will analyze the science, link it together, and help people see not just what’s true today, but what might be true tomorrow.

Why does this matter? Because better, faster, and more complete information means better decisions. Whether it’s a doctor choosing a treatment, a public health agency setting policy, or a funder deciding where to invest, having the most up-to-date and predictive view of the evidence can save time, money, and lives.

This project will take time and considerable effort. It will require advanced AI, smart statistical modeling, and a deep understanding of the research process. But we believe it’s worth it, because this is where science needs to go, and we’re ready to help lead the way.

Stay tuned. We’ll be sharing updates as we build, test, and eventually launch this new platform. The future of evidence isn’t static, and soon, neither will be the way we use it.