COVID-19 Resources
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A lack of consistent reproducibility in some preclinical research has serious implications for translating those findings from bench to bedside. This is a problem that requires urgent corrective action. Restoring confidence in the rigor of pre-clinical biomedical research will require all stakeholders to be a part of the solution, including basic scientists, academic institutions, industry, and publishers.
Symposia
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Preclinical Animal Research Design
James Fox (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Valerie Hamilton (Merck), and Tom Cheever (NIAMS) outline key areas to focus on when designing your animal research experiments in order to improve the quality of data outcomes. (Experimental Biology 2018)
Why Scientific Rigor Matters and Ways to Improve It
Kristine Willis (NIH), Bradley K. Yoder (University of Alabama-Birmingham), Curt D. Sigmund (University of Iowa), and Tracey Weissgerber (Mayo Clinic) describe efforts to increase scientific rigor through training students in research design, more transparent reporting of research findings, and better approaches to data visualization. (Experimental Biology 2017)
Reproducibility in Research Symposium
Shai Silberberg (NINDS), Richard Nakamura (NIH-CSR), and Malcolm Macleod (Edinburgh University) identified issues that undermine scientific rigor and the importance of addressing them. (Experimental Biology 2015)
APS Resources
- Reproducibility Tool Box
Resource collection to promote rigor in research. [PDF]
- Reproducibility Journal Club
A journal club activity to gain insight into the challenges of improving scientific rigor.
Outside Resources
- NIH: Rigor and Reproducibility
Access point for NIH announcements and resources on improving scientific rigor.
- NIH OER Rigor & Reproducibility Guidance
Information from the NIH Office of Extramural Research designed to assist the extramural community in addressing rigor and transparency in NIH grant applications and progress reports.
- iBiology: Shai Silberberg Video on Unconscious Bias & Publications Bias
In a video produced by iBiology, NINDS Program Director Shai Silberberg discusses two key contributors to irreproducibility and offers suggestions for mitigating these factors.
- ILAR Workshop Brief: Reproducibility in Research with Animal Models
A summary of the National Academy of Sciences's Roundtable on Science and Welfare in Laboratory Animal Use. The document is available as a free PDF download or to read online.
- NIH One Pager on Reproducibility in Grant Applications
A One Pager by NIH breaking down various aspects of reproducibility and rigor and explaining where they should be addressed in grant applications. [PDF]
- NIH Frequently Asked Questions
NIH FAQ on rigor and reproducibility.
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