HHS Peer Review

This site describes the HHS Peer Review Agenda and the policies and procedures that HHS employs to conduct peer review of influential scientific information and highly influential scientific assessments that HHS disseminates to the public. The HHS Peer Review policies were developed in accordance with the OMB "Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review" issued on December 16, 2004. Overall, the goal of the OMB Bulletin is to enhance the quality and credibility of the government's scientific information by establishing requirements that federal agencies conduct a peer review on all influential scientific information that they disseminate.

HHS shares the goal of assuring that the best available scientific and technical information is used to support regulatory and programmatic decision making. HHS makes use of different types of peer review throughout the agency to inform decisions ranging from selecting meritorious scientific research proposals and assessing the quality and productivity of intramural research programs to reviewing scientific information in the development of policies for research, clinical practice, and public health. HHS peer review policies and processes have been designed to meet the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, fairness, and rigor.
 

I. Effective Dates
a. Information Dissemination Date
The OMB Bulletin requirements are effective for agency influential scientific information or highly influential scientific assessments first disseminated on or after June 16, 2005. Influential scientific information and highly influential scientific assessments disseminated before that date are not subject to the Bulletin.
 

b. Peer Review Agenda Dates

For peer review agenda setting, the OMB Bulletin establishes two effective dates. By June 16, 2005, HHS will start posting an agenda for peer review plans for highly influential scientific assessments. By December 16, 2005, HHS will start posting an agenda for peer review plans for influential scientific information as well as an update of its agenda for peer review plans for highly influential scientific assessments.
 

II. Peer Review Planning
Systematic peer review planning enhances the quality and credibility of major agency decisions. As part of the agency's systematic planning process, HHS agencies will post a web-based peer review agenda and update the agenda at least every six months.
 

Several HHS agencies have their own peer review agenda webpages:

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Peer Review Agenda
• National Institutes of Heath (NIH) Peer Review Agenda
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Peer Review Agenda

Peer review agendas outside of these agencies will be posted on this webpage. For assistance with access or questions, please email ASPE InfoQuality at: ASPE.InfoQuality@hhs.gov. 
 

Agenda Information
The agenda describes all the planned agency peer reviews for influential scientific information and highly influential scientific assessments that are subject to the OMB Bulletin. For each agency peer review that is listed, the agenda will contain key information as it becomes available including the preliminary title, subject and purpose of the planned report; the HHS operating division and office conducting the review and the name of the agency contact person; the peer review schedule; the use of a letter review, panel review or other mechanism; and the opportunities for public comment, if any are planned. 

Peer Reviews

Completed Peer Reviews