A critical component in assuring the core values of peer review is the continuous review of peer review activities.

As part of the Enhancing Peer Review Initiative, NIH laid the foundation for continuous review of peer review, and has commenced a dynamic effort to assess the cumulative outcomes of the concurrent changes being brought about by the peer review enhancements.

• Data-driven mechanisms to evaluate review outcomes
• Peer review pilots and assessments
• On-line surveys of multiple audiences
• Changes introduced in May 2009; surveys distributed in Fall 2010
• Surveys distributed to the public
• Surveys distributed to NIH staff (Internal link for NIH Staff Only)
• Report summarizing the results, December 2010 (PDF - 1.27 MB)
• Changes introduced in January 2010; surveys distributed in Spring/Summer of 2011
  • NIH applicants, reviewers and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to share their opinions about changes implemented by NIH as part of the Enhancing Peer Review Initiative.
  • The online surveys are brief and anonymous, and participation is entirely voluntary.

RTI International, an independent research organization based in North Carolina, conducted the surveys and is compiling the responses. Information gathered through the online surveys will help NIH to further enrich the peer review process.