National Eye Research Centre
Code of Conduct for Scientific Advisors,
External Referees, Applicants and Charity
Staff
1)
Details of research applications and related correspondence, Scientific Advisory Committee meeting
papers, and the identity of external referees are strictly confidential and must be kept secure and
not disseminated to, or discussed with, anyone outside the review process.
2)
The comments of committee members and external referees will be treated in confidence by
charity staff.
3)
Charity staff will not disclose details of applicants or their applications to those outside the review
process.
4)
When we inform applicants of the outcome of their applications, we provide anonymous versions of
referees' comments, and may also summarise the conclusion reached by the
committee. Information that might identify the comments of individual panel members or referees
is redacted.
5)
It is our policy to let external referees know the final outcome of applications they have reviewed
after we have communicated decisions to applicants. Referees agree to treat all details of
applications and their outcomes as confidential.
6)
When a committee member is connected with an application, he or she must declare an interest
and withdraw from any consideration of that application. That member does not receive
documents pertaining to the application, learn the identity of its referees or receive its referees'
reports, and does not score the application. He or she must retire from the meeting when the
application is assessed. Details of discussions of that application are expurgated from any papers
that member receives.
7)
Committee members serve for a fixed term of four years which may be renewed for one extra
period of four years. Having served two terms of four years a retiring committee member may not
return to the panel for at least one year.
8)
Applicants should not, under any circumstance, directly approach members of the charity's
Scientific Advisory Committee in connection with their (or another's) research application.
9)
Panel members should refuse any requests for information or feedback from applicants on how a
particular judgment was reached.
Code of Conduct Protocol – Version 1
(Last reviewed by trustees: January 2014)
January 2014
10) Committee members are unremunerated and National Eye Research Centre is extremely grateful
for the time and effort committee members freely give to their SAC duties. Committee members
may claim reasonable travel expenses for attending the annual SAC meeting to consider the major
grant applications
11) Any breach of this code of conduct will be treated very seriously and may lead to disciplinary
proceedings against an employee, suspension of a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee or
the dismissal of an application from further consideration, as deemed appropriate by the trustees.
Mike Daw
Chief Executive
March 2014
Code of Conduct Protocol – Version 1
(Last reviewed by trustees: January 2014)
January 2014