Facilitate peer review with Lansdowne Research

Peer review remains central to academic publishing, but the conditions that once sustained it have changed markedly. Editors are under pressure to move proposals efficiently through decision-making, while academics face increasing demands on their time and attention. Identifying suitably qualified reviewers, securing their agreement, and obtaining completed reports within a reasonable timeframe has become one of the most fragile points in the editorial process.

Lansdowne Research provides an independent peer-review intermediary service for academic publishers, focused on the evaluation of book proposals. Publishers submit proposals directly to Lansdowne Research, which then coordinates the full double-blind review process on their behalf. This includes reviewer identification and commissioning, anonymisation, communication, deadline management, and the delivery of completed reports in a clear, decision-ready format.

Reviewers are drawn from Lansdowne’s existing but broad network of academics selected for disciplinary expertise, methodological judgement, and experience with scholarly publishing. Selection is based on fit rather than availability alone. Reviewer reports are rigorous and returned using the appropriate template provided by the publisher.

Lansdowne Research essentially operates as an intermediary between publishers and expert reviewers, removing the administrative and logistical burden of peer review while preserving its intellectual independence and credibility. Anonymity is maintained throughout, and the integrity of the double-blind process is treated as non-negotiable.

This service is offered on standard publisher review fees, without premiums. By professionalising the coordination of peer review, Lansdowne Research helps stabilise a core scholarly practice under challenging conditions, allowing editors to work with greater predictability while respecting the realities of academic labour.