The Science of Peer Review: Evidence, Challenges, and Improvements

The Science of Manuscript Peer Review: Evidence, Challenges, and Opportunities for Improvement

The Science of Peer Review: Evidence, Challenges, and Opportunities for Improvement

August 25, 2026 | 1:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM CET | Online

Peer review is one of the foundations of scientific publishing. It influences which studies are published, how research is communicated, and ultimately how scientific knowledge advances. Yet despite its central role in research, many scientists receive little formal training in manuscript peer review, and important questions remain about its effectiveness, fairness, transparency, and impact on research quality.

Join us for a timely and evidence-based discussion with Professor David Moher, one of the world's leading experts in meta-research, research integrity, reporting guidelines, and scholarly publishing.

Drawing on decades of research, Professor Moher will examine what manuscript peer review contributes to the research ecosystem, what the evidence tells us about its strengths and limitations, and how emerging challenges—including bias, professionalism, research integrity concerns, and artificial intelligence—are shaping the future of scholarly publishing.

The webinar will also explore practical and systemic approaches to improving peer review, including reviewer training, reporting guidelines, open science initiatives, and efforts to strengthen the quality, transparency, reproducibility, and trustworthiness of scientific research.

Speaker

Professor David Moher, PhD
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute & University of Ottawa

Professor David Moher is a Senior Scientist in the Methodological and Implementation Research Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, where he directs the Centre for Journalology (publication science), and a Full Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa.

Internationally recognized for his contributions to research quality and reporting standards, Professor Moher spearheaded the development of the CONSORT Statement for reporting randomized controlled trials and played a leading role in the development and updating of the PRISMA reporting guidelines for systematic reviews. His work has fundamentally shaped how health research is conducted, reported, evaluated, and synthesized worldwide.

His current research focuses on open science, meta-science, responsible research assessment, manuscript peer review, reproducibility, and research integrity. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Whether you are an early-career researcher, an experienced reviewer, an editor, or an educator, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to learn from one of the most influential scholars working to improve the quality and credibility of scientific research.

Hosted by: Dr. Kathrin Herrmann, Director of Education, Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)

Please register in advance: https://jh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BbnSwLMnTLuVd1rfmnWANQ