Commitment to responsible research assessment

Worldwide Cancer Research is proud to be a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and is committed to the ongoing review of the processes and data requested to support our research funding decisions. We acknowledge the diversity of research outputs that researchers contribute to the scientific community and seek to ensure transparency and equality in our approach to assessing applications for our research funding.

Our Research Assessment Principles

In line with DORA, we commit to the following:

1. Valuing Diverse Research Outputs

   We recognize there is a broad range of research contributions that researchers can make to the community. Alongside key publications to support their research proposal we ask for additional information on key achievements to highlight any further contributions made to the research and wider community (such as development of research tools; public engagement and contributions to the wider society, etc). We encourage our Grantholders to disseminate their research through various channels, reaching wide and diverse audiences and to make appropriate data and reagents available for the benefit of the wider scientific community.

2. Avoiding Journal-Based Metrics

   We do not use journal impact factors or other journal-based metrics as proxies for the quality of individual research outputs. Applicants are asked to highlight any papers or pre-prints which best support the proposed methods and ability to deliver the research outlined in the proposal.

3. Using Indicators Responsibly

   We apply the five principles for responsible use of indicators:
   
   • Be clear – our awards are based on the idea of the research proposal and ability of the outcome to transform approaches to cancer research
   • Be transparent – we provide guidance for applicants and reviewers on what is expected from them and the criteria on which proposals will be assessed
   • Be specific – we review our application in consultation with reviewers and considering sector best practices to determine the appropriateness of the data provided to assess the applications
   • Be contextual – we acknowledge there is a wide diversity in research outputs generated from our funding and encourage our researchers to report all research outputs which occur directly or indirectly from our funding
   • Be fair – we seek to avoid bias throughout our process and monitor success rates to allow us to evaluate this better across different categories

4. Supporting Qualitative Assessment

   We prioritize expert judgment and external review in our funding decisions, ensuring that assessments are informed by the content and potential impact of the work. We continue to  acknowledge the invaluable contribution reviewers make to the process and support reviewers through the various stages of our processes

5. Ensuring Transparency and Equity

   Our funding processes are designed to be transparent, equitable, and inclusive, with clear criteria and guidance for applicants and reviewers. Our grants are awarded in open competition and reviewed by an independent panel of experts from within the research community. We are committed to imbedding the concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion in our processes and seek to improve accessibility and minimise bias within our processes. We provide guidance and assistance where required to support individuals throughout the process.

6. Continuous Improvement

   Annually before our Grant Round launch we review and refine our assessment practices, information provided to applicants and reviewers and gather information on success rates within various populations. We monitor the wider trends within the research community to ensure our processes reflect the best practice.

Next Steps

We continue to work actively to embed these principles into our funding policies, reviewer guidance, and applicant resources. We welcome collaboration with other organisations committed to responsible research assessment where we can learn from their experience and share our own learning. We seek to continue to improve transparency and provide an equitable review experience for all applicants.

Last updated: 27th January 2026