Leichte Sprache
Animal methods bias is the preference for animal-based research methods or the lack of expertise to adequately evaluate nonanimal methods. Our recent study found that half of researchers surveyed had been asked by reviewers to add an animal experiment to their otherwise animal-free study. These requests and other forms of animal methods bias can affect the quality or fairness of nonanimal research assessments, including peer reviews of manuscripts and grant applications, potentially causing delays in publication, lower-impact papers, or rejected grants. The Coalition to Illuminate and Address Animal Methods Bias (COLAAB) is an international, cross-sector collaboration of researchers and advocates aimed at addressing this issue. The COLAAB does this in two main ways, by gathering empirical evidence of animal methods bias and developing strategies to mitigate its harmful effects. This presentation will provide an overview of animal methods bias and ongoing work of the COLAAB, including the latest evidence and a new online tool authors can use to help prevent and address animal methods bias when publishing studies. AnimalMethodsBias.org contains guidance, a database of animal-free experimental resources, a library of over 800 papers and other references, and more!
Bio sketch:
Catharine E. Krebs, PhD is a medical research program manager at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a US-based nonprofit that promotes nonanimal research and medical training. Her work in biomedical research policy involves advocating for the US National Institutes of Health to shift away from animal use toward more ethical, equitable, and effective human-centered research approaches. She also leads the COLAAB, a collaborative international effort to characterize and address the bias toward animal-based methods within biomedical research.