title: The ups and downs of peer review.
abstract: This article traces the history of peer review of scientific publications, plotting the development of the process from its inception to its present-day application. We discuss the merits of peer review and its weaknesses, both perceived and real, as well as the practicalities of several major proposed changes to the system. It is our hope that readers will gain a better appreciation of the complexities of the process and, when serving as reviewers themselves, will do so in a manner that will enhance the utility of the exercise. We also propose the development of an international on-line training program for accreditation of potential referees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Nutrition, and Vision Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Dale J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Benos
authors.forename: Edlira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bashari
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaggar
authors.forename: Niren
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LaFrance
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mans
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polter
authors.forename: Yawar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qadri
authors.forename: Shanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarfare
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Splittgerber
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Cristy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tower
authors.forename: R Grace
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zotov
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010380:Peer Review / Q000592:standards*; D011287:Prejudice; D011643:Publishing / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D012941:Social Responsibility