Role of the referee in the NIHR programmes
Referees play a vital part in maintaining and improving the quality of the NIHR research programmes.

The role of the referee is crucial to the success of the NIHR programmes, both by promoting scientific rigour and by ensuring that research commissioned has been successfully carried out.

Types of referees
As well as needing input from referees and advisors with clinical expertise, routine input is also sought from experts in areas such as:

   •    trial methodology
•    systematic reviews
•    health economics
•    statistics
•    modelling
•    diagnostic test evaluation
•    screening
•    epidemiology

The programmes also regularly seek the perspective of service users throughout the research process. Please see the Patient and Public Involvement page.

Why we need Experts
The NIHR programmes consider several proposals a year for primary research and evidence synthesis.  In order to support the NIHR Boards, Committees and Panels by making funding recommendations, the programmes invite at least four expert referees (and a service user) to comment on each proposal focusing on:

•    the quality of the research proposed

•    how adequately it addresses the research question presented in the specification document

•    how justifiable are the costs

•    the adequacy of the composition of the research team and their capacity to undertake the work.

Referees are asked to complete a standard NIHR referee assessment form and their ‘open’ comments are used as un-attributed feedback to the applicants.

Apply now
If you would like to apply to become involved with the review process for this Surgery Themed Call, please complete the attached application form.

 NIHR referee application form