Endocrine Insider
March 6, 2008

The Peer Review Working Group of the NIH Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) has made its recommendations to the ACD on steps to improve the peer review process.

The recommendations are structured to address seven challenges as identified by the group. Ideas are suggested for pilot testing or for further study. Recommendations include:

• Provide unambiguous feedback by using a new “Not Recommended for Resubmission” category for applications and by providing scores for all applications
• Eliminate the “special” status of amended applications by considering all applications as being new
• Modify the rating system by rating multiple criteria independently, providing an independent overall score, and ranking all applications considered within a study section
• Initiate wider use of patients or their advocates in review of clinical research applications
• Review and rank early-career investigators separately from established investigators
• Expand the use of awards that encourage transformative science
• Ensure the use of clinician scientists in review of clinical research proposals
• Require a minimum percent effort by PIs and co-PIs on research project grants
• Implement periodic review of the peer-review process

The report was made public on February 29, and the NIH has provided the scientific community the opportunity to comment on the recommendations. The deadline for comments is March 17, and the draft report, instructions for submitting comments, and background information are available at: http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/