This week, we’re reflecting on Peer Review Week, which took place from 15 to 19 September and centred around the theme Rethinking peer review in the AI era. We begin by reading about new approaches to peer review, including quality ratings, distributed peer review, and the use of AI and LLMs. We also signpost upcoming peer review webinars and courses for those early in their academic publishing career. Finally, we learn that Wiley is launching a new platform – Wiley Focus – and discover the theme of this year’s International Patient Engagement Day.
To read:
Peer Review Quality Ratings: a new approach to safeguarding trust in research via The Scholarly Kitchen | 8-minute read
In this article Ashutosh Ghildiyal (Vice President, Growth & Strategy at Integra) and Gareth Dyke (Academic Director at ReviewerCredits and Sales & Business Development Director at 4Evolution) ask: “How can we ensure that peer review remains a genuine, trustworthy foundation for scholarly publishing?”. As artificial intelligence (AI) promises to influence scholarly publishing for both better and worse, Ashutosh and Gareth propose an objective, transparent and standardized Peer Review Quality Rating system of criteria that, if applied consistently, would “empower the scholarly community to distinguish journals where peer review is a rigorous process from those where it has become a mere formality”.
Distributed peer review transforms academic grant funding allocation via LSE Impact Blog | 7-minute read
Could distributed peer review – in which grant applicants review rival proposals – solve difficulties in sourcing peer reviewers in an increasingly saturated research ecosystem? This article discusses a recent study by the Research on Research Institute that compared distributed peer review with traditional panel reviews to evaluate the relative robustness, benefits and challenges. The authors conclude that, although distributed review introduces its own challenges, its benefits could revolutionize traditional panel reviews and may have applications in the wider research landscape. A similar study by the UK Metascience Unit found distributed peer review cut average grant review times by up to 65%.
R1: the first peer reviewed LLM via Nature | 5-minute read
No widely used large language model (LLM) had undergone an independent peer review. That was until DeepSeek made the industry-first decision to submit its R1 model for independent and transparent peer review. Using the R1 model as a case study, this Nature article demonstrates how independent evaluation of LLMs enhances transparency and improves trust in emerging AI technologies.
Wiley launches Wiley Focus via Wiley | 2-minute read
Wiley has announced the launch of a new educational platform – Wiley Focus. Wiley Focus will be integrated with the Wiley Online Library to provide a platform offering “high-quality analysis and perspective content for industry professionals to expand their knowledge base”. Through curated collections, expert perspectives, key opinions and whitepapers, Harriet Jeckells (Group Vice President and General Manager of Wiley Corporate Markets) believes Wiley Focus will allow industry leaders to share “expertise that informs decisions, accelerates innovation and strengthens industries”. For more information about how to contribute to Wiley Focus, read the information for authors and writers.
To watch:
The current state of peer review via The Publisherspeak Podcast | 33-minute watch
In this episode of The Publisherspeak Podcast, host Sowmya Mahadevan (Chief Operating Officer at Kriyadocs) is joined by Gareth Dyke (Academic Director at ReviewerCredits and Sales & Business Development Director at 4Evolution) to discuss what is broken in the peer review system and what can be done to address these issues. Drawing on their shared experience, Sowmya and Gareth explore the opportunities open to publishers to support trust, quality and collaboration in peer review and beyond.
To engage with:
Peer review process masterclass via ALPSP
Are you at the start of your career in academic publishing or interested in pursuing it as a career? Sign up to this Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) introduction to peer review course hosted by Shehnaz Ahmed (Director of Research and Publishing at British Association of Dermatologists) and Trevor Perri (Editor-at-Large at Amherst College Press). The programme, split into two parts on 30 September and 1 October, will cover the basics of peer review and tools to improve issues within the process.
Academic publishing in the AI era via Patient Safety
Want to know more about how AI is being used in academic publishing? Join Michael A Bruno (Professor of Radiology & Medicine, Vice Chair for Quality & Safety and Chief of Emergency Radiology at Penn State University) and editors from the journal Patient Safety on 1 October to explore the potential positive impacts of AI in publication processes. Email patientsafetyj@pa.gov to reserve your spot at this free event.
International Patient Engagement Day 2025 via ISPEP
The International Society of Patient Engagement Professionals (ISPEP) has announced the theme for this year’s International Patient Engagement Day as #CarryTheChange. Held on 15 October, the community engagement event aims to celebrate Patient Engagement Professionals and facilitate sharing of knowledge within the field. Check out this post for more ways to get involved.
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