The Privilege and Power of Peer Review: Advancing Science With Integrity, Vigilance and Fairness

Peer review is the cornerstone of science, essential for maintaining the integrity of scientific publishing. It is a crucial process that provides a vital safeguard through which research is scrutinised, critiqued and validated (or refuted) by content and method experts who assess its rigour, relevance, originality and contribution to the field. Peer reviewers provide crucial advice to editors and others assessing submissions, for example publishers and grants bodies. With robust peer review processes, original work can be strengthened, while flawed, spurious or unsupported claims can be challenged. Peer review is used in multiple ways, including in the publication of scientific work and in the processing of grant applications.