Robustness
In animal research, there is often a lack of measures to reduce threats to validity such as bias or a lack of statistical significance. Measures to reduce such bias, such as randomization and blinding, are essential to ensure robust research results in addition to a sufficient number of test units. (Source: BIH QUEST Center)
🔄 Experimental design and statistical analysis
Section 4, Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis, of the PREPARE Guidelines provides much information on this subject, including links to online protocols and further reading ( link ).
🔄 Service unit biometrics at the ZI-Mannheim
In cooperation with the statistics department, the 3R Center offers statistical consulting services for scientists and helps researchers to put their research projects on a biometrically valid basis (email).
🔄 Test Planning Assistant (EDA)
"NC3R's Experimental Design Assistant" helps to create robust study protocols that are more likely to produce reliable and reproducible results. Protocols can be time-stamped and made publicly available (optional) to facilitate pre-registration. EDA also provides information on components and concepts critical to trial design, e.g., group and sample size, blinding, allocation ( link ).
🔄 PAASP Heidelberg
PAASP is a consulting and auditing company providing services and training in good research practice in non-preclinical, biomedical research areas with a particular focus on drug discovery and development ( link ).
🔄 EQIPD - European Quality in preclinical data
EQIPD aims to enable a smoother, faster and safer transition from preclinical to clinical testing and drug approval by establishing common guidelines to strengthen the robustness, accuracy and validity of research data ( link ).
🔄 Mouse models - white papers and manuals
Commercial providers of laboratory animals also provide helpful manuals and white papers:
Charles River - Strategies to Minimize Genetic Drift and Maximize Experimental Reproducibility in Mouse Research.
Envigo - 3R animal wellfare
The Jackson Laboratory Handbook on Genetically Standardized Mice (Sixth Edition)
Taconic - White Papers