1) Evidence quality
Are the works primary, methodologically detailed, and aligned with testable claims?
2) Rigor & reproducibility signals
Pre-registration, code/data availability, statistical transparency, and independent validation (when available).
3) Domain expertise
Consistency of contributions within a narrow biological question space vs. broad, shallow output.
4) Citation behavior (critical)
Whether citations reflect technical dependence (not just mention frequency), and whether conclusions match evidence.
5) Bias & conflicts (critical)
Potential publication bias, sponsor influence, selective reporting, or outcome-driven framingβevaluated from full text/COI statements where available.