Opinion: Synthesis of Evidence in laboratory animal research

Every application for a project licence for animal experiments must be well founded, so that the proposed research question(s), the strategy chosen, the choice of the animal model, the 3R policy, and the experimental design are clearly articulated, verifiable and justifiable. Researchers can ensure a thorough preliminary study of the research topic by conducting a Synthesis of Evidence (SoE) prior to writing a licence application. This can include a brief description of how the SoE was carried out and the choices made. The findings of the SoE can then be included in the licence application.

The SoE often generates high expectations, particularly regarding how they can contribute to the 3R policy. We believe it is of the utmost importance to design animal experiments carefully. Therefore, we issued an opinion report and guideline describing how the SoE can be deployed as an instrument for designing research involving laboratory animals in 2016. This was done on our own initiative.

In the opinion report (Part 1) we described various SoE methods that are used to plan and conduct animal research, and how these contribute to 3R policy.

The guideline (Part 2)* is intended both for researchers who want to apply for a licence as well as for the assessors of licence applications. It provides researchers with concise advice for conducting a SoE and describes how the findings of the SoE can be applied to licence applications.

Assessors can use the guideline to obtain additional information from licence applicants, if required, about how they conducted the preliminary study and the choices and selections made within the study.

*The guideline (part 2) publication on conducting a SoE is only available in Dutch