OVERVIEW: The External Reviewer Exchange Consortium (CEREC) leverages the resources and knowledge base of nine Clinical and Translational Science (CTSA) hubs across the nation to enable the efficient exchange of reviewer expertise to support internal pilot funding programs.
The Consortium is led by the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) at the University of California, Irvine and is composed of CTSA hubs across the country:
- Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center
- Medical College of Wisconsin | Clinical & Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin
- The Ohio State University | Center for Clinical and Translational Science
- University of Alabama – Birmingham | Center for Clinical and Translational Science
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Translational Research Institute
- University of California – Irvine | Institute for Clinical & Translational Science
- University of Southern California | Clinical and Translational Science Institute
- University of Washington | Institute of Translational Health Sciences
- Virginia Commonwealth University | Center for Clinical and Translational Research
GOALS: To develop strategies that promote methodological excellence, scientific transparency and innovation while minimizing conflict of interest in the review process of applications for pilot funding opportunities.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES: Across the consortium, CEREC has supported the review of 570 applications for CTSA pilot funding. CEREC contributed reviews to 47 SC CTSI proposals, and 50 USC faculty contributed reviews to other CTSAs. Evaluation of the program indicated an increase in the quality of peer review. The consortium is expanding membership, and the SC CTSI will continue to use CEREC as an important component of our peer review.