When peer review breaks down

Very interesting piece from the BBC this morning reporting an open letter from Austin Smith and Robert Lovell-Badge apparently saying that reviewing of stem cell research is now controlled by a small number of researchers and it is stifling papers getting out (see here). The letter is on the Centre for Stem Cell Research news page here and the main text goes something like this ...

"... the standard of publications in the field is very variable. Papers that are scientifically flawed or comprise only modest technical increments often attract undue profile. At the same time publication of truly original findings may be delayed or rejected.

We suggest a simple step that would greatly improve transparency, fairness and accountability; when a paper is published, the reviews, response to reviews and associated editorial correspondence could be provided as Supplementary Information, while preserving anonymity of the referees. We note that this procedure has recently been adopted by The EMBO Journal."