Abstract
The era of evidence‐informed decision‐making has seen increased use of the scientific advisory committee (SAC) to provide decision‐makers with scientific advice, despite limited evidence of the effectiveness or best strategies for designing these committees. In this study, an in‐depth review of academic and gray literature is undertaken to outline the global landscape of SACs. The development of a typology is also undertaken that categorizes SACs along six dimensions: 1) sector, 2) level of operation, 3) permanence, 4) target audience, 5) autonomy, and 6) nature of advice. It is found that SACs differ profoundly in each of these dimensions and provide examples demonstrating this variation. The landscape and typology can help decision‐makers understand the key elements of SAC design and reform, and the results will also inform future research on the design and effectiveness of SACs. With SACs expected to promote evidence‐informed decision‐making, it is imperative that the design of these committees themselves is guided by evidence.
Highlights
The objective of this study was to describe the global landscape of scientific advisory committee (SAC) and to develop a typology that can both inform the design of SACs and facilitate future studies on effective SAC design
This article outlines the current landscape of SACs and proposes a typology of SACs with the goal of assisting decisionmakers and researchers in designing and studying these committees
Our analysis demonstrates the wide variation in recent SACs
Summary
1. Introduction scientific advisory committee (SAC) to provide decision-makers with scientific advice, despite limited evidence of the effectiveness or best strategies for designing these committees. While there is a literature on the environmental factors affect SACs, it is key to have a strong understanding of the institutional design of SACs. While there is a literature on the environmental factors affect SACs, it is key to have a strong understanding of the institutional design of SACs These are the features over which decision-makers have control, and it is important to provide them with tools and evidence to design effective SACs. The objective of this study was to describe the global landscape of SACs and to develop a typology that can both inform the design of SACs and facilitate future studies on effective SAC design
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
