Using peer review to improve research and promote collaboration

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Research Administration
• Grant Writing

Background:

• Declining success rates for National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant applications necessitate strategies to improve funding outcomes.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for enhancing research competitiveness in a large, diverse academic department.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate how a systematic peer review process can improve the quality of research proposals.
• To cultivate a more collaborative departmental culture to increase federal funding success.

Main Methods:

• Revisions were made to the Research Review Committee (RRC) within the Department of Psychiatry.
• The RRC was adapted to support interdisciplinary grant applications, align with NIH application process changes, and integrate technological advancements.

Main Results:

• The internal peer review process correlated with increased success in securing research funding.
• Significant levels of collaborative scientific work were observed, evidenced by grant applications and publications.

Conclusions:

• A robust internal peer review system fosters a highly collaborative environment.
• This system benefits both the quality of scholarly output and the collegiality within the research setting.