Nested Knowledge is systematic review software for living literature reviews and meta-analysis, built for clinical and life sciences research. It combines search, screening, data extraction, critical appraisal and visualization in one platform.
The platform has two parts. AutoLit handles searching, screening, tagging, extraction and appraisal. Synthesis turns those actions into sunburst diagrams, summary plots, network meta-analyses and dashboards.
Changes made during screening or extraction flow into PRISMA diagrams, statistical outputs and markdown-based manuscripts. Adding new literature updates these outputs automatically.
Listed customers and collaborators include Sterling Medical Devices, ICER and NAMSA, plus a Stanford University collaboration on stroke intervention reviews. The company lists a VIA Award 2021. User counts and ratings are not public.
Pricing
Business Essentials costs $295 per user monthly. It adds collaboration, unlimited Nests, Smart Search, Smart Screener, Core Smart Tags, Smart Critical Appraisal and Nest Versioning. Enterprise costs $695 per user monthly and adds Robot Screener, Adaptive Smart Tags, Smart Insights, technical support, training and white labeling. Enterprise Plus has custom pricing with private labeling and research support. Sign-up includes a free first Nest without collaboration, and prices exclude tax.
* Disclaimer: Please note that pricing information may not be up to date. For the most accurate and current pricing details, refer to the official website.
Key Features
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Smart Search builds updatable PubMed searches or imports study files
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Smart Screener highlights PICO elements and predicts inclusion
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Dual screening and dual critical appraisal for reviewer quality control
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Extracts continuous, dichotomous and categorical data across arms and time points
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Generates network meta-analyses and forest plots without writing code
Use Cases
Stroke Intervention Meta-Analysis
Clinical researchers compare endovascular thrombectomy against medical therapy for stroke. They import records, screen with PICO highlighting and pool outcomes into forest plots.
Health Technology Assessment Dossiers
HEOR teams keep evidence bases current as new trials publish. Custom data export tables support economic evaluations and HTA submissions.
Regulatory Literature Monitoring
Compliance teams track safety signals and adverse event reports for devices or drugs. Scheduled PubMed updates send new records into the screening queue.
Stakeholder Evidence Dashboards
Medical affairs staff share sunburst diagrams and dashboards with key opinion leaders. Non-technical readers can drill from a concept down to the underlying studies.
Rapid Reviews for Sponsors
CROs deliver evidence syntheses to pharma and device sponsors on short timelines. AI inclusion prediction and standardized extraction reduce manual screening effort.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
One workflow links search, screening, extraction and visualization, so data is not re-entered between tools.
PRISMA diagrams, analyses and manuscripts update automatically when new studies are added.
A free first Nest and pilot projects let teams test the workflow before buying.
Living manuscripts can be embedded on the web, and dashboards can be shared.
Seats are user-agnostic, so organizations can swap users without buying new licenses.
Weaknesses
Free accounts cannot collaborate, and every collaborator needs a license or active pilot.
Robot Screener and Adaptive Smart Tags require the $695 Enterprise plan instead of the $295 tier.
Smart Search targets PubMed, so records from other databases need file imports.
Tagging hierarchies, PICO settings and data elements take time to learn for complex meta-analyses.
Who Is This For?
Clinical Research Organizations: teams delivering systematic reviews and rapid evidence syntheses to several sponsors.
Life Sciences and Medical Device Teams: HTA, HEOR, regulatory and medical affairs groups that need current evidence.
Academic Researchers and Students: faculty and students running peer-reviewed reviews, with academic and student pricing available.
Journals and Societies: publishers maintaining living evidence reviews as updatable manuscripts and dashboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try Nested Knowledge without paying?
Yes. Sign-up includes your first Nest for free, and pilot projects let teams trial the platform. Collaboration is not available on free accounts.
What is the difference between AutoLit and Synthesis?
AutoLit covers searching, screening, tagging, extraction and critical appraisal. Synthesis turns those actions into charts, dashboards and manuscripts.
How does a living review stay current?
New literature added to a Nest updates PRISMA charts, sunburst diagrams, meta-analyses and manuscripts automatically. Scheduled PubMed searches can bring in new records.
Does Nested Knowledge offer academic or student pricing?
Yes. An Academic tier exists for non-profit research organizations, universities and users in low- and middle-income countries. Student pricing is also available.
How do I add or swap users on a paid plan?
Seats are user-agnostic, so you remove one user and add another from the organization screen. With Stripe Self-Service, billing is pro-rated on your next invoice.
Which payment methods and billing intervals are accepted?
Credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers and wire transfers work. Checks are not accepted. Stripe offers monthly or annual billing, and License Agreements add more interval options.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
Stripe cancellations take effect immediately. You can no longer update or add to existing Nests, but you can still open them and export AutoLit data.
Which databases can I search directly?
Smart Search queries PubMed. Records from other databases, including Embase, come in through imported search files.
Nested Knowledge connects to PubMed for Smart Search and scheduled literature updates. Study files from Embase and other bibliographic databases can be imported. No other public integrations are currently listed.