What is the National Research Council process?

The National Research Council process guides the acceptance of subjects for study by the institution, their examination by a committee of volunteers, and institutional review and approval of the committee's report. Acceptance of a subject for study involves several stages, of which the last, and most critical, is approval by the Executive Committee of the Governing Board or, on occasion, the full board. In its decision to accept or decline a project, the Executive Committee considers the importance and timeliness of the question, its background, the audience, likely impact, the range of competencies that must be represented on the committee if the question is to be examined adequately, and funding sources.

Once a project is under way, responsibility for ensuring adherence to the Research Council process lodges primarily with the executive office of the cognizant unit of the Research Council. This responsibility includes the procedures for appointing members to the committee, assurance that the committee's membership is balanced - especially if there are polar views on the topic before the committee - that its expertise is appropriate to the task, and that the schedule necessary for timely completion of the project is maintained.

The final stage of the Research Council process, that of review, falls under the aegis of the Report Review Committee, whose task it is to vouch for the credibility of the committee's work in the sense, primarily, of verifying that its conclusions and recommendations are supported by the body of the report, that the report addresses the charge given to the committee, that it is clearly written, and that its level of discourse is appropriate for the intended audience.

Why is the Research Council process so important in ensuring the credibility and authority of Research Council reports?

Because of this process, balance and objectivity are achieved. The Research Council process subjects the work products of the institution - from project proposals to finished products - to critical review by a body of peers highly knowledgeable in the subject matter. Adherence to the process protects against a committee's taking a narrow or parochial view of a problem, or failing to consider fully or properly document data or information pertinent to the issue under review. The process is particularly aggressive in differentiating committee opinions and judgment from findings of fact well-grounded in science.

Who is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Research Council process?

A number of administrative bodies and committees oversee various aspects of the institution's work:

Proposals for projects are reviewed and approved first by the commission, office, or board that would undertake them, and then by the Research Council's Governing Board or Executive Committee.

All nominations for committee members must be approved by the chair of the Research Council. Committee members are chosen on the basis of their knowledge and experience in the various aspects of the topic to be investigated. Before the appointments are finalized, the names, affiliations, and short biographies of committee members are posted for public comment on the Academies' Web site. Members of the commissions, offices, or boards responsible for projects review a committee's membership periodically while its work is in progress.

External review of reports is carried out under the procedures of the Report Review Committee.

Overall responsibility for monitoring compliance with the Research Council process is vested in the Research Council's Executive Office, in conjunction with its Governing Board and with the Report Review Committee.

How are committee members selected and approved? Does the Research Council let sponsors make final decisions on committee composition based on a list of nominees provided by the Research Council? Can sponsors make or influence the selection of committee members?

Prospective committee members are identified in a variety of ways, most of which involve suggestions from individuals considered knowledgeable in the fields in which nominees are sought. Most suggestions for committee members come from individuals, not from institutions, organizations, or agencies of government. Committee members are nominated by commissions, offices, and boards, and are approved by the chair of the National Research Council.

The Research Council does not permit governmental agencies that sponsor projects to select committee members because of the institution's commitment to ensuring independence and objectivity in carrying out its work. However, sponsors can and often do suggest nominees, some of whom may be selected. Such a selection could be made when the individuals nominated by a sponsor have the expertise, knowledge, and stature required and can be expected to participate in a committee's work without being subjected to undue influence or pressure from the sponsoring agency.

Can government experts serve on Research Council and Institute of Medicine committees?

Yes, but only in cases where the individual is well-removed from the office and from the decision-makers sponsoring the study and could not be affected directly by the outcome of the study.

What is the role of sponsors of Research Council studies? What are sponsors entitled to while a Research Council project is under way?

The principal role of sponsors is to articulate a clear, feasible charge and to provide adequate funding to allow the committee to carry out the tasks it deems necessary to respond to the charge.

Sponsors are entitled to regular status reports, timely communications of any problems that arise, special briefings, and notification of plans for the public release of reports. Sponsors -- and members of the public -- may attend early meetings when information is being gathered, not those meetings where conclusions and recommendations are being developed. In addition, sponsors may request that Research Council committees assume additional tasks or examine particular topics in greater depth. To the extent possible, the Research Council honors such requests.

Who reviews Research Council reports prior to their official release?

Every Research Council committee report is reviewed by individuals independent of the institution, who are not involved in the authoring study committee's work and are unknown to the committee. These independent individuals are selected by the major unit responsible for the project, in consultation with the Report Review Committee. Reviewers may also include members of the parent board, office, and/or commission overseeing the committee's study, as well as a review monitor and others appointed by the Report Review Committee, and the Research Council chair. A report may not be released to a sponsor or the public until the chair of the Report Review Committee, or his/her designee, signifies that the institutional review process has been satisfactorily completed.