SyRF
SyRF is a free web platform for evidence synthesis and systematic reviews of preclinical research, including meta-analyses.
What SyRF is
SyRF is a free web platform for evidence synthesis and systematic reviews of preclinical research, including meta-analyses. Researchers can collaborate, adapt project workflows, screen studies, annotate records, and store extracted data. By default, two reviewers screen studies against project criteria, with a third reviewer involved when they disagree. Administrators can create annotation questions and assign them to review stages; graph data extraction requires enabling data extraction alongside annotation in a stage. Administrators can download studies and associated data, including quantitative results for analysis in tools such as R or SAS. Projects may be public or private, but other SyRF users can see the names and descriptions of public projects. The platform accepts deduplicated references as EndNote Desktop XML or CSV, not XML exports from EndNote Web or other software. Users can link full-text PDFs, but must provide the files separately for SyRF staff to process and store. Each project supports one set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The feature set is described as minimum and under continuous development.
Good
- Free web platform for evidence synthesis and systematic reviews.
- Default screening includes two reviewers and a third for disagreements.
- Administrators can export studies and quantitative data.
- Projects can be public or private.
- Supports systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
Watch out
- Each project supports only one criteria set.
- EndNote Web XML exports are not compatible.
- Users must provide PDFs separately for processing and storage.
- Single screening is not recommended for journal-bound reviews.
Who it suits
SyRF is intended for researchers conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of preclinical studies. Its collaborative workflow and data exports may suit teams that need to screen studies and analyze extracted results.
Verdict
SyRF offers a free, web-based workflow for teams reviewing preclinical studies, with screening, annotation, data extraction, and exports. Check its reference-import requirements and single-criteria-set limit against the needs of your project.
Plans and prices
From SyRF's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| SyRF | Free | Freely available online platform; feature set is described as minimum and under continuous development |
The facts
Each one read from SyRF's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Annotation
- Project administrators can build annotation questions and assign them to review stages.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Researchers can collaborate on projects and tailor project workflows to their needs.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Data export
- Project administrators can download studies and associated data, including quantitative data for analysis in software such as R or SAS.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Data extraction
- Data extraction for graphs requires enabling data extraction alongside annotation in a project stage.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Developer and funding
- CAMARADES developed SyRF with initial funding from the UK National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).checked 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- SyRF is intended for researchers conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of preclinical studies.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Known workflow limit
- A project currently supports only one set of inclusion and exclusion criteria.checked 3 Oct 2026
- PDF handling
- Full-text PDFs can be linked to studies, but users must provide the PDFs separately for the SyRF team to process and store.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Project visibility
- Projects can be public or private; public project names and descriptions are visible to other SyRF users.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- SyRF supports evidence synthesis and systematic reviews of preclinical research, including storing extracted data and providing educational resources and guidance.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Reference imports
- SyRF accepts deduplicated references as EndNote Desktop XML or CSV; XML exports from EndNote Web or other software are not compatible.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Screening
- Reviewers can screen studies against project inclusion and exclusion criteria, with two independent screeners and a third reviewer for disagreements by default.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Single screening limit
- Single screening can be enabled for student projects; the guide does not recommend it for reviews intended for journal publication.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- The guide directs users to contact the SyRF Help Desk for help with manual screening-disagreement reconciliation.checked 3 Oct 2026
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