Peer review procedures
Deafness Research UK only undertakes projects of the highest standard and which are deemed to have significant, potential benefit for people suffering from deafness and related conditions.
Assessment
Deafness Research UK has been a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities since 1989. All projects are assessed using a rigorous peer review process in line with AMRC guidelines and best practice.
The charity has a panel of eight scientific and medical experts who advise on research strategy and have responsibility for the review and monitoring of applications and grants. Membership of the Research Advisory Panel is rotated so that each member serves a maximum of five years.
Research advisers, assisted by the external reviewers, assess not just the scientific merit of an application but its chances of yielding clear, applicable results, and its urgency and appropriateness at a time of great scarcity of funds, even for the highest quality research.
The following specify minimum levels of peer review. In general, particularly where there is uncertainty, a greater degree of peer review may be used.
Small grant procedures: up to £15,000
Applications are reviewed by the relevant adviser. External reviewers may be consulted at the discretion of the adviser.
- Under £5,000: No scoring necessary. The adviser indicates whether support is justified or not.
- £5,000 - £15,000: Scored using the approved rating scheme,
Grants £15,000 and over
Summary
- Preliminary proposal
- Full aplication
- Assessment by Deafness Research UK adviser and external referees
- Revisions /comments invited, as appropriate
- Final scoring and recommendation by adviser
- Consideration by Research Sub-committee
- Final decision by Board of Trustees
Preliminary applications
Reviewed by the relevant adviser who may or may not request a full application.
Full applications
After screening by an adviser, these are reviewed by at least two external referees using the approved rating scheme (see below).
Referees' comments are moderated by the adviser for presentation to the Research Sub-Committee.
Where there is no appropriate adviser in an area, or to avoid conflict of interest when a member of the Research Advisory Panel makes an application, an adviser is appointed on an ad hoc basis.
Where the application receives a score of 3 or below (out of a maximum of 5) for scientific merit, it is currently automatically rejected.
Although in exceptional cases, applications under £30,000 may be approved under Chairman's Action procedures, most applications go to the Research Sub-Committee along with advisers' comments and recommendations for consideration. The Research Sub-Committee meets quarterly and its proposals are submitted to the Board of Trustees.
Reviewers' are informed of the outcomes of those applications with which they have been involved and members of the Research Advisory Panel are kept informed of the results of all applications.
An example of our reviewer and adviser's comments checklists are available for download below, as is our official rating scheme that is used to score the applications received:
Reviewer comments checklist (Word doc, 117kb) Adviser comments checklist (Word doc, 117kb) Ratings scheme (Word doc, 118kb)Monitoring and evaluation
Once awarded, grants are monitored through regular progress reports and, where appropriate, site visits.
Dissemination of results
Results are submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and presentation at international conferences as appropriate so that the findings can be used by other researchers and practitioners in the field.
Findings will also be publicised through Deafness Research UK using its Information and Communication services.
