The use of independent peer reviewers (to obtain advice from experts knowledgeable in a particular research area) is an intrinsic part of the Wellcome Trust–DBT India Alliance (the ‘Alliance’) decision-making process when deciding which activities it chooses to fund.

Maintaining confidentiality in the peer review process is central to the Alliance’s approach because it considers, in line with the majority of scientific research funding organisations worldwide, that the best quality peer review is obtained when the referees can comment candidly, in the knowledge that their comments will be disclosed only to those directly involved in the decision-making process. In addition, the Alliance maintains the confidentiality of the comments because, in most cases, they relate directly to the work of identifiable individual scientists. However, with the permission of the referees, the Alliance usually feeds back non-attributed comments to applicants who have submitted full applications. This is particularly useful to applicants who have not been successful, as the comments can assist them in understanding why their application was not supported and how improvements might be made to future applications.