Core Values of Peer Review

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Core Values of Peer Review

• Alan L. Willard, Ph.D.
• Chair, Review Policy Committee
• Chief, Scientific Review Branch
• NINDS
• National Institutes of Health

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Guidance (1) The NIH Mission

• The mission of NIH is to support and conduct
  scientific research in pursuit of fundamental
  knowledge about the nature and behavior of living
  systems and the application of that knowledge to
  extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of
  illness and disability for all citizens. To
  accomplish this, the NIH
• Fosters fundamental creative discoveries,
  innovative research strategies, and their
  applications as a basis to advance significantly
  the Nation's capacity to protect and improve
  health.
• Develops, maintains, and renews scientific,
  human, and physical resources that will assure
  the Nation's capability to prevent disease.
• Expands the knowledge base in medical and
  associated sciences in order to enhance the
  Nation's economic well-being and ensure a
  continued high return on the public investment in
  research.
• Exemplifies and promotes the highest level of
  scientific integrity, public accountability, and
  social responsibility in the conduct of science.

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Guidance (2) Laws Policies

• Title 42 of the US Code of Federal Regulations
  (Public Health Service)
• Federal Advisory Committee Act
• Privacy Act of 1974
• Government in the Sunshine Act
• HHS Grants Administration Manual
• NIH Manual Chapters
• CSR SRA Handbook

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Core Values of NIH Peer Review

• Scientific and Technical Competence
• Fairness and Objectivity

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To Achieve Scientific and Technical Competence (1)

• Ensure that requests for NIH support are
  evaluated by groups of qualified individuals who
  possess (collectively)
• Appropriate scientific and technical expertise to
  evaluate critical aspects of requests for NIH
  support
• The capability to make objective judgments in a
  broad scientific context
• The flexibility and receptivity necessary to
  address new areas of science and new
  technologies.

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To Achieve Scientific and Technical Competence (2)

• Encourage open exchange of competing points of
  view.
• Monitor the process to ensure scientific and
  technical competence.

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To Achieve Fairness and Objectivity (1)

• Manage conflicts of interest and other influences
  on the review process, thereby keeping it
  independent from sources of potential bias that
  could inappropriately influence the outcome.

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To Achieve Fairness and Objectivity (2)

• Encourage informed participation in the
  evaluation by all members of the review group.
• Apply review criteria appropriately and
  consistently throughout the process.
• Implement policies and procedures consistently
  and equally for all research projects and
  applicants.

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To Achieve Fairness and Objectivity (3)

• Maintain confidentiality of applicants' ideas and
  reviewers' opinions.
• Make information on the peer review process
  available.
• Monitor the process to ensure fairness and
  objectivity.

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The Core Values Committee

• Beebe, Deborah (NHLBI)
• Corsaro, Cheryl (CSR)
• Hornbeak, Hortencia (NIAID)
• Levitin, Teresa (NIDA)
• Richters, John (NINR)
• Rushing, Paul (NIDDK)
• Weller, Robert (CSR)
• Chair Elliot Postow (CSR)
• With thoughtful input from the entire Review
  Policy Committee.