Transparency, accountability and shared learning are key components of NHMRC’s peer review process. A new peer review assessment stage will be piloted in the 2026 Investigator Grants round designed to strengthen the robustness of the existing peer review process.
In response to feedback from applicants, peer reviewers, and the broader health and medical research sector calling for greater transparency and accountability in application-centric peer review, NHMRC is introducing a new assessment review stage.
This stage will be piloted in the 2026 NHMRC Investigator Grants round and will be introduced following the completion of independent assessments. During this new stage, peer reviewers will be able to view the individual criterion scores, applicant feedback and identities of other reviewers who assessed the same applications.
Reviewers will also have the opportunity to revise their scores or feedback if the additional information provides relevant insights that warrant reconsideration or clarification. A reviewer may choose to revise their assessment if they:
- identify a clear oversight, such as misinterpreting or underweighting key information in the application
- recognise an error in their original assessment
- find that another reviewer’s feedback offers new insights.
Peer review confidentiality and independence remains paramount. Peer reviewers are also reminded of their obligations under the APS Code of Conduct and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
NHMRC continues to encourage reviewers to use the full scoring range (1–7) and apply the score descriptors independently for each criterion. Variation between reviewers is expected and reflects the value of individual judgement in peer review.
NHMRC will monitor engagement and feedback throughout the pilot and use these insights to refine future peer review processes. Peer reviewers will also have an opportunity to participate in a formal survey at the end of the 2026 Investigator Grant round.
Quotes attributable to acting NHMRC CEO, Prue Torrance:
- ‘NHMRC is committed to improving its peer review process in response to the sector’s feedback. Doing this ensures our processes remain fair, robust and transparent, and continue to support high-quality health and medical research.
- ‘This new initiative is not intended to undermine independent assessment. It focuses on transparency, accountability and learning among our valued peer reviewers, which in turn, will preserve independence and strengthen our existing process.’