PhD and MD not resident in Italy nor affiliated to Italian Institutions are invited to review grant applications in bio-medicine (Bando 2010). Dear Researcher, ISSNAF -Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation- has committed to support the Italian Ministry of Health in the peer-to-peer review process of its current grants in bio-medicine (Bando per la ricerca finalizzata 2010).

In fulfillment of its mission, the Foundation is strongly motivated to contribute to the efforts of the Ministry in enhancing transparency and meritocracy in the allocation of Italian public funds. We also believe in the important transfer of experience to Italian researchers stemming from highly qualified reviewers' professional contributions.

The review of almost 3,000 projects in all areas of expertise (see table below) is entrusted to PhD or MD researchers residing outside of Italy. ISSNAF is supporting the Ministry in the completion of a high profile roster of reviewers and experts to carry out the grant making process.

I am writing to sound out your interest in participating in the online review process.

Should you be interested, you are kindly invited to send a short CV to bandoMoH2010@issnaf.org

Once you are selected, you will receive an official communication from the Italian Ministry of Health with detailed instructions and access codes to the review system.

Here are some additional information you might find useful:

The Ministry's call is available at www.salute.gov.it/bandi/documenti/bando_finalizzata_2010.pdf

Reviewers must be PhD or MD of any nationality as long as they are not resident in Italy

The conflict of interest policy is customary and is available in Italian in the MoH Call (Annex 3 Section C)

The review process is expected to last from mid December,2011 to mid March 2012

A token honorarium of 50Eur (about $67) per review will be paid once the review process if closed.

Each application is only a few pages long and the 2-year budget research is outlined in broad strokes, focusing on its significance and innovation, rather than on its detailed explanation. Reviewers are asked to provide scores and a synthetic comment, using a light tem plate similar tothe one introduced in the NIH review system in 2009.

A commitment to complete at least 15 reviews in the 3 months period is required of each reviewer

Please feel free to contact ISSNAF should you have any query.
ISSNAF will be grateful if you wanted to forward this message to colleagues you think might be interested in participating in this activity.

With kind regards,

Giustina Magistretti