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Research Peer Review Conflict of Interest Policy

Thank you for agreeing to participate in the peer review of research proposals submitted to Ovarian Cancer Action. To ensure that our review process is fair, transparent, and aligned with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) principles of best practice, we ask all reviewers to read and adhere to the following Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy before completing your review.

  1. Purpose of this Policy

This policy aims to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the peer review process by identifying and managing any conflicts of interest that may arise.

  1. What Is a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest occurs when your involvement in the review process could be perceived to affect, or actually affect, your ability to provide an objective, unbiased assessment of a proposal. This includes both actual and perceived conflicts.

  1. Situations Where a Conflict of Interest May Arise

You must declare a conflict if:

  • You are named on the application or have contributed to it in any way.
  • You have collaborated with the applicant(s) or co-applicant(s) in the past 3 years.
  • You are currently, or have recently been, in the same department or research group as the applicant(s).
  • You are in a personal relationship (e.g. family, friend, partner, former student/supervisor) with the applicant(s).
  • You have a financial interest in the outcome of the application.
  • You are applying to the same funding call.
  • You feel unable to provide an objective review for any other reason.

If you are unsure whether a situation constitutes a conflict, please disclose it to us in confidence and we will advise you accordingly.

  1. Declaring Conflicts

Please review your assigned application(s) and notify us immediately if you identify a conflict of interest. You must not proceed with reviewing any application where a conflict exists.

If no conflicts exist, we still require you to confirm this in writing as part of your agreement to participate in the review.

  1. Confidentiality and Conduct

All applications and related documentation must be treated as strictly confidential. You must not share, copy, or discuss the contents with anyone else. Your review should be professional, evidence-based, and free from bias.

  1. Consequences of Non-Disclosure

Failure to declare a conflict of interest or breaching confidentiality may result in removal from the peer review process and exclusion from future panels.

  1. Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or a specific application, please contact research@ovarian.org.uk.

Thank you for supporting our commitment to fair, high-quality research funding for ovarian cancer.