The PLEACS working group will develop a list of minimum requirements for content to be included in all PLS, followed by format and style guidelines for the PLS. The working group contains representatives nominated by the CEU, MECIR team, ME Exec, Consumers’ Exec, CCNet Advisory Board, Consumers and Communications review group, Opportunities Fund researchers from the Norwegian Knowledge Centre (for their work on PLS format and style guidelines) and the Musculoskeletal review group (for their experience implementing PLS format and style guidelines). 

Co-convenors

The co-convenors for this project are Catherine McIlwain (CCNet, Consumers' Executive, Cochrane Summaries Team, Cochrane Operations Unit, Translations Working Group, Training Working Group,Trainers' Network, Anniversary Task Force) and David Tovey (Cochrane Editorial Unit, CCSG Steering Group meetings). 

Co-ordinating Team

Jackie Chandler (Methods Groups, MECIR Group, MARS, Methods Executive, Handbook Editor, Archie Development Advisory Committee) and Lorne Becker (Web Team, Star Trek Working Group, Wiley) will join the co-convenors as members of a coordinating group that will refine the working group’s ideas and prepare the recommendations for implementation. Responsibility for the final product lies with the co-ordinating group. The intention is to launch of an initial set of minimum standards for the content of plain language summaries at Cochrane's Mid-year Meeting in Paris in 2012.

PLEACS Working Group

The working group contains the following representatives: Becker, Lorne (Web Team, Star Trek Working Group, Wiley); Chandler, Jackie (Methods Groups, MECIR Group, MARS, Methods Executive, Handbook Editor, Archie Development Advisory Committee);  Churchill, Rachel (Co-Eds Executive, Co-Eds Board, MECIR Group, MARS, Handbook Editor); Gyte, Gill (Consumers’ Executive, Trainers Network); Lasserson, Toby (CEU, MECIR Group, RevMan Advisory Group); McIlwain, Catherine (CCNet Membership, Translation Working Group, Training Working Group, Cochrane Summaries team, COU); Napoli, Maryann (CCNet Geographic Advisory Group); Rader, Tamara (Musculoskeletal Review Group); Santesso, Nancy (Applications and Recommendations Review Group, GRADEPRO team, Glenton/Oxman/Rosenbaum team); Simi, Silvana (CCNet Non-English language/developing countries); Synnot, Annie (Consumers and Communications Review Group); Tovey, David (CCSG Steering Group Meetings, CEU); Welsh, Emma (ME Executive, Managing Editors).

PLEACS Advisory Group

A larger Advisory Group was also formed for interested persons to be involved in the process by providing comments at key stages during project. 

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