"Lancet's" global reviewer database has up to 150,000 experts, with 260 collaborating statisticians, and each paper must be assessed by at least three senior reviewers and one statistician.
The research hypothesis, experimental methods, results, and conclusions of the paper will all be scored on a five-point scale before being placed onto the candidate list.
Before participating in the selection meeting discussions, editors at "Lancet" will read through each paper and add their comments to the electronic reviewing system.
At today's selection meeting, the editors discussed a variety of topics, including "fetal malformations, breast cancer survival rates, smoking during pregnancy, HIV, colon polyps, and the benefits of having treadmills at work," covering all aspects of life. The discussion was exceptionally lively.
Yet now, within the conference room at this moment, there came a rare silence.
"Unanimously passed?"
"Passed!"
