Recommended set

12. Background Include sufficient scientific background to understand the rationale and context for the study, and explain the experimental approach. explanation

12a Include sufficient scientific background to understand the rationale and context for the study, and explain the experimental approach.
12b Explain how the animal species and model used address the scientific objectives and, where appropriate, the relevance to human biology.
Explanation
Examples

Scientific background information for an animal study should demonstrate a clear evidence gap and explain why an in vivo approach was warranted. Systematic reviews of the animal literature provide the most convincing evidence that a research question has not been conclusively addressed, by showing the extent of current evidence within a field of research. They can also inform the choice of animal model by providing a comprehensive overview of the models used along with their benefits and limitations [1-3].

Describe the rationale and context of the study and how it relates to other research, including relevant references to previous work. Outline evidence underpinning the hypothesis or objectives and explain why the experimental approach is best suited to answer the research question.

 

References

  1. Avey MT, Fenwick N and Griffin G (2015). The use of systematic reviews and reporting guidelines to advance the implementation of the 3Rs. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4382619/
  2. Hooijmans CR and Ritskes-Hoitinga M (2013). Progress in using systematic reviews of animal studies to improve translational research. PLOS Medicine. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001482
  3. Sena ES, Currie GL, McCann SK, Macleod MR and Howells DW (2014). Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of preclinical studies: why perform them and how to appraise them critically. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2014.28