Canada’s scientists win overhaul of federal research grant system

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), which fund most biomedical research in Canada, have agreed to scrap the system of reviewing grant applications, in place since 2012, and return to previous methods after numerous complaints culminated in an open letter to the health minister signed by 1309 researchers.

Until 2012 the institutes conducted peer review of funding applications by creating panels in 53 disciplines. Experts would then be flown in at considerable expense for face to face …