Science moves forward because you show up
Message from the President
September 24, 2025
Dear colleagues,
As we look to welcome peer reviewers for the Fall 2025 Project Grant competition, I would like to take a moment to highlight the critical importance of the peer review process. Peer reviewers are the backbone of the research funding system. Every grant awarded is made possible because fellow researchers volunteer their time and expertise.
Participating in peer review is an opportunity to gain insight into the review process, learn about new research developments in your fields, engage with peers, and share your unique expertise and knowledge to guide health research funding.
Virtual peer review meetings help to increase reviewer diversity by removing barriers like travel and time away from home that can prevent some researchers from volunteering to review. We recognize that virtual meetings can pose challenges for engagement – it can be difficult to focus on a screen for extended periods of time. We’re in the process of seeking feedback from the research community to strengthen our peer review processes to better support applicants and reviewers.
As part of this, we are considering expanding the role of Chairs and Scientific Officers in peer review and making sure these members are equipped with appropriate support and data to ensure applicants receive clear and constructive feedback. We are also looking into the value of improving reviewer continuity and scoring calibration to enhance the consistency of reviews.
I want to take this time to remind reviewers that successful peer review meetings require your active participation. When volunteering to review for CIHR, we ask that you participate fully for the entire duration of the review meetings. Step away from regular work duties, silence notifications, and avoid scheduling other meetings or calls. Full attention ensures fairness, quality, and respect for the process—for applicants and your fellow reviewers.
We want to hear from you
CIHR makes sure to include frequent breaks during peer review meetings to ensure reviewers have designated time to stretch their legs or check in on their other responsibilities. We want to hear from you: what else can we do to make virtual peer review meetings more engaging? I encourage you to provide feedback to CIHR by emailing support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca so we can continue to improve the process for everyone.
As always, I am incredibly grateful to the reviewers whose contributions allow CIHR to continue funding impactful, life-saving research.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Hébert, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, FCAHS
President
- Date modified: