Webinar: Dr David Moher & Dr K. M. Saif-Ur-Rahman - Ensuring Quality in Peer Review and Editorial Practice for Evidence Synthesis

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High-quality evidence syntheses are essential for guiding evidence-based healthcare and policy decisions. Yet, an increasing number of methodologically flawed reviews—often single-authored, lacking comprehensive searches, dual screening, proper risk of bias assessment, or certainty-of-evidence evaluation—are being published in peer-reviewed journals. Such practices risk misleading decision-makers, undermining public trust, and diluting the scientific value of evidence synthesis. In this webinar, we will discuss how the peer review and journal editorial process can play a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of evidence synthesis. Drawing on personal and professional experiences, the presenters will outline practical strategies for strengthening peer review and editorial oversight, including enforcing reporting guidelines, improving editorial and reviewer expertise, and exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence. The session will highlight how rigorous peer review processes can ensure trustworthy syntheses that inform policy, practice, and public understanding.

Speaker:

Dr. David Moher is a senior scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, where he directs the Centre for Journalology. Dr.  Moher is also a full Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. Dr. Moher received an MSc in epidemiology and PhD in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics. Dr. Moher is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Dr. Moher works in knowledge synthesis; predatory journals; reporting guidelines; and open science.

Dr. KM Saif-Ur-Rahman is the Senior Research Methodologist with Evidence Synthesis Ireland and Cochrane Ireland and Honorary Research Senior Lecturer at the University of Galway. He holds an MBBS, an MPH in Epidemiology from Bangladesh, and a PhD in Epidemiology from Nagoya University, Japan. Over the past decade, he has led and contributed numerous evidence syntheses in public health, including systematic reviews, rapid reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence gap maps. His portfolio includes more than 120 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 33; i10-index 58), with several Cochrane and methodological reviews as lead or senior author. Dr. Saif is also a dedicated mentor and educator, co-supervising PhD students, leading the Evidence-Based Future Healthcare MSc module at University of Galway, and delivering training across Bangladesh, Japan, and Ireland. He serves as Associate Editor for BMC Systematic Reviews, is a member of the GRADE Working Group, and is Vice-Chair of the University of Galway Research Ethics Committee.