Why should grant proposal reviewers with a conflict of interest remove themselves from the review process?

Removing oneself from the review process when a conflict of interest is present is crucial because it significantly reduces the possibility of bias influencing the evaluation of the proposal. Reviewers with a conflict of interest may unintentionally favor or disadvantage a proposal based on personal feelings or relationships rather than on the merit of the research itself. Ensuring that reviewers who are impartial and have no vested interests in the outcome assess grant proposals helps maintain the integrity of the review process. This practice upholds fairness and objectivity, which are foundational principles in the responsible conduct of research. By preventing conflicts of interest, the scientific community can trust that funding decisions are made based on the quality and potential impact of the proposed research, rather than personal biases or relationships.