Peer Review

Research applications are assessed through a stringent, highly competitive peer review process.  The Foundation is an active member of the Association of Medical Research Charities in the UK and of the Medical Research Charities Group in Ireland.  The charity has been awarded the AMRC Certificate of Best Practice in Peer Review, and supports their policies on good research practice, the use of animals in research and university indirect costs.

Full applications are assessed according to the AMRCs’ principles of accountability, balance, independence, rotation of advisers, and impartiality.  We ask at least two independent external referees to provide detailed written comments and an overall score on the application.   With the help of referees’ reports, the Scientific Advisory Panel then meets to decide which proposals to recommend to the trustees for final approval.  Panel members, external referees, Foundation staff and applicants all agree to abide by a Code of Conduct.

When we write to applicants to let them know the outcome of their applications, we provide anonymous versions of referees’ comments:  the identity of referees is never revealed to applicants.  It is our policy to let referees know the final outcome of applications they have reviewed after we have communicated decisions to applicants.  We ask that referees regard all details of applications and their outcomes as confidential, and once we have acknowledged receipt of comments, destroy all paper copies and delete all electronic copies from computer systems.