In the event that a protocol has not received peer review from a funding agency or other independent, expert peer review, the principal investigator will request Scientific Merit Review by contacting AccBio@carleton.ca
Scientific Merit Review is then done through the Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies), Faculty of Science, before the Animal Care Committee (ACC) review of the corresponding protocol.
The reviewers must be external to the research team and laboratory in which the protocol will be undertaken, and must not be directly involved in the protocol design or implementation.
The reviewers should have appropriate experience and/or knowledge in the relevant field, discipline or sub-discipline to adequately review protocol content.
The reviewers should not have published with the lead investigator or have any other potential conflict of interest (e.g., personal, financial).