National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) peer review process is integral to supporting the best health and medical research in Australia.
Peer review helps NHMRC make decisions on funding based on impartiality and expert advice. The ongoing voluntary participation of the research community in the peer review process ensures that NHMRC continues to fund the best health and medical research and researchers.
NHMRC's principles of peer review underpin the peer review of all of its funding schemes. Peer review relies on peer reviewers complying with these principles, where appropriate, and providing rigorous assessment of applications for NHMRC funding to ensure transparency, probity and fairness of process. NHMRC appreciates and values the contribution that peer reviewers make to this process. See:
Benefits of participating in peer review
Contributing to peer review is an important step in your professional development and provides the opportunity to contribute further to Australia's health and medical research.
Participating in peer review offers you the opportunity to see the breadth of research conducted in Australia and to examine new research in your field of expertise. By improving your understanding of NHMRC's peer review process and reviewing applications, you have the possibility of strengthening your own applications in the future.
Guiding principles for peer review nomination and appointments, and self-nomination
Nominations and appointments of NHMRC peer reviewers across any NHMRC scheme is guided by the below principles.
NHMRC also invites researchers to self-nominate for consideration to undertake peer review for our funding schemes. A guide to self-nomination has been developed to assist researchers to consider which funding scheme would be most appropriate, as below:
How can Administering Institutions encourage personnel to participate in peer review?
Under the NHMRC Funding Agreement the Administering Institution must make available to NHMRC, free of charge but subject to NHMRC providing reasonable notice to the Administering Institution, the services of Specified Personnel to provide professional input into reviewing or assessing applications made under a Scheme in the Personnel’s area of expertise as required by NHMRC.
Below are some suggestions for Administering Institutions to incentivise their personnel to participate in peer review:
- A letter of thanks from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVCR) (or similar) to personnel who participate in peer review. NHMRC's Peer Review Honour Roll includes the peer reviewers' Administering Institution.
- A reminder from Administering Institution Research Offices to NHMRC grant recipients alerting them of their obligation to participate in NHMRC peer review.
- Workshops and training sessions for peer reviewers.
- Inclusion of peer review participation in relevant Administering Institution policies, such as those involving recruitment and promotion decisions.
- Allowing personnel to complete peer review duties during their standard working hours, rather than being expected to use their personal time.