NIH Establishes Working Groups to Examine Peer Review
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni,
M.D., announced today the formation of two working groups — one
external, the other internal — to examine the NIH peer review
process, with the goal of maximizing its effectiveness.
“Peer review is such a fundamental and critical part of the research
process, that it requires our constant vigilance,” said Director
Zerhouni. “With the increasing breadth and complexity of science,
along with the increased number of research grant applications,
we need to take a comprehensive look at our review process, and
make the necessary changes to strengthen it for applicants and
reviewers alike. Although our peer review system is outstanding — and
emulated throughout the world — we want to make it even better.”
Over the last 60 years, the peer review process has been examined
several times with the goal of making sure peer review identifies
the best possible scientific research for NIH to fund. “NIH must
continue to adapt to rapidly changing fields of science and ever-growing
public health challenges. It also must continue to draw on the
most talented reviewers and fund the most promising research,” Zerhouni
said.
The two new NIH working groups will seek input from the scientific
community, including investigators, scientific societies, grantee
institutions, voluntary health organizations, and from within NIH
as well. The groups will study the context, criteria, and culture
of peer review to make sure the most talented individuals and reviewers
are engaged in the process.
External ACD Working Group on Peer Review:
Keith R. Yamamoto, Ph.D., University of California-San
Francisco, co-chair
Lawrence Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., National Institute
of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, co-chair
Bruce Alberts, Ph.D., University of California-San
Francisco
Mary Beckerle, Ph.D., University of Utah
David Botstein, Ph.D., Princeton University
Helen H. Hobbs, M.D., University of Texas-Southwestern,
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Erich D. Jarvis, Ph.D., Duke University
Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., American Association
for the Advancement of Science
Philippa Marrack, Ph.D., National Jewish Medical
and Research Center, University of Colorado, Denver
Marjorie Mau, M.S., M.D., University of Hawaii
Edward N. Pugh, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Tadataka Yamada, M.D., Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation
Norka Ruiz Bravo, Ph.D., Office of Extramural
Research, NIH, ex officio
Antonio Scarpa, M.D., Ph.D., Center for Scientific
Review, NIH, ex officio
Internal Steering Committee Working Group on Peer Review:
Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., National Institute
of General Medical Sciences, co-chair
Lawrence Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., National Institute
of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, co-chair
Story Landis, Ph.D., National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, NIH
Marvin Kalt, Ph.D., National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases, NIH
Roderic I. Pettigrew, Ph.D., M.D., National
Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering, NIH
Norka Ruiz Bravo, Ph.D., Office of Extramural
Research, NIH
Antonio Scarpa, M.D., Ph.D., Center for Scientific
Review, NIH
Lana R. Skirboll, Ph.D.,Office of Science Policy,
NIH
Brent Stanfield, Ph.D., National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH
Jane A. Steinberg, Ph.D., National Institute
of Mental Health, NIH
Betty C. Tai, Ph.D., National Institute on Drug
Abuse, NIH
John Bartrum, Office of Budget, NIH, ex officio
Jack Jones Jr., Ph.D., Acting NIH Chief Information
Technology Officer, NIH, ex officio
Catherine Manzi, Office of General Counsel,
NIH, ex officio
Jennifer Spaeth, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy, NIH, ex officio
Results from the ACD peer review working group will be presented
to the full Advisory Committee to the Director in December 2007.
The internal NIH steering committee working group will present
its findings to the NIH Director’s Steering Committee during the
same month. Both working groups will meet in January 2008 to develop
a set of integrated recommendations for next steps.
The ACD advises the NIH Director on policy matters important to
the NIH mission of conducting and supporting biomedical and behavioral
research, research training, and translating research results for
the public. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/about/director/acd/index.htm.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible
for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers.
This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs
and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director
also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating
specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information
is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) The Nation's
Medical Research Agency is comprised of 27 Institutes
and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health
and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research,
and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common
and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs,
visit www.nih.gov. |