Blinding Models for Scientific Peer-Review of Biomedical Research Proposals: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Research
• Peer Review Processes
• Research Funding Applications

Background:

• Blinding models are used in peer review to mitigate bias.
• The effectiveness of different blinding models in biomedical research proposals is not well-established.
• Understanding the impact of blinding on reviewer accountability is crucial.

Approach:

• Systematic review of comparative studies evaluating peer review blinding models.
• Included studies focused on biomedical research proposals and funding applications.
• Qualitative assessment using the QualSyst tool was performed.

Key Points:

• Only three studies met the inclusion criteria for this review.
• Evidence on the overall effect of blinding models on bias was limited.
• The impact of un-blinding on reviewer accountability requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• This is the first systematic review assessing peer review blinding models specifically for funding applications.
• The review highlights a significant need for more high-quality randomized controlled trials.
• Further research should explore peer review dynamics in manuscripts versus proposals and across different scientific fields.