Referee Guidelines

GUIDE TO REFEREES OF HEART FOUNDATION PROJECT GRANT APPLICATIONS

The final outcome of a grant application submitted to the Heart Foundation is determined from the results of a review by the Scientific Advisory Group. This review includes consideration of reports provided by independent referees. Your expertise is sought to assist the Scientific Advisory Group to evaluate the scientific merit and potential of the work proposed.

In your assessment, you are asked to provide a detailed critique of the project, including your opinion of:

Its originality and potential to advance knowledge in the field
The appropriateness and feasibility of the study design
The appropriateness of the applicant's expertise to meet the requirements of the proposed research (if known).
Any comments on the budget or the relevant matters.

In addition, you are asked to provide an overall rating for the grant application taking into account the above criteria. The scale to be used ranges from 1 (poor) to 10 (outstanding).

You should note that New Zealand has had an Official Information Act since 1983. Our current practice is to send the applicant a copy of all referees' reports along with the assessment of the Scientific Advisory Group. The name, address and rating of a referee will not be given to the applicant. If you wish to communicate additional comments to the Scientific Advisory Group in confidence, these should be written on a separate page. Information provided in such a manner wil not be given to the applicant.

NB: Please record in the space below the rating scale, on the cover page of the report form, any professional relationship you may have or have had with the applicant.

After checking your address is correct, please return the completed form to:

Professor Norman Sharpe
Medical Director
Heart Foundation
PO Box 17-160
Greenlane
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND

or fax: from within New Zealand to (09) 5719190
from overseas to +64 9 5719190

or email: HelenS@nhf.org.nz

A blank referee report form is available for download in word format

Please note: This form is not to be used as a reference form for Fellowship applications