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This is an interesting article about a peer review intervention which was embedded within a multi-site RCT of the effectivenesss of treatments for prostate cancer. The intervention involved trial staff from one site conducting on site monitoring at other sites involed in the RCT. The intervention complemented other quality control measures such as independant data monitoring and trial steering committtees. Hence there was not an immediate cost benefit howevev the focus on training and mentoring enhanced study cohesion (i.e. sites collaborating more closely with one another) and experienced trial staff were ablt to help colleagues at other sites resolve site problems and reduce errors.

I think this article will be of great interest to those of you working on reciprocal monitoring schemes.

Article on SciDevNet about the launch of Global Health Reviewers, a partner site of Global Health Trials. www.GlobalHealthReviewers.org is an online community for members of research review committees, and aims to provide support, guidance, review and professional network.

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) based in Switzerland have announced a 100,000 USD first prize and 50,000 USD second prize for innovations in various categories, including healthcare.