The ARRIVE poster prize recognises leading examples of complete and transparent reporting of in vivo research and aims to raise awareness of the ARRIVE essential 10. Our judges scrutinised over 20 posters against the ARRIVE guidelines, engaged with poster authors and shared our ARRIVE z-cards to educate and increase uptake of the guidelines for the early career researchers presenting at Pharmacology 24. We were particularly excited to work with the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) to launch the ARRIVE poster prize as they have long been promoters of the ARRIVE guidelines, highlighted by the publications in their journal, the British Journal of Pharmacology (BJP), and policies in the reporting of animal research [1][2].
Much of scientific research starts its dissemination journey as posters or talks at national and international conferences, before the final published article is produced and shared. Transparent reporting at these early presentations allows peers and colleagues to untangle the data and fully understand how the science has been conducted so that they can share their own insights into the scientific story. Early adoption of the ARRIVE guidelines helps presenting researchers to maximise the likelihood of producing reliable results and drawing robust conclusions, reducing the use of animals by avoiding further in vivo experiments based on data open to doubt.
Ms Sofia Fontana-Giusti was awarded the 2024 ARRIVE poster prize for the transparent reporting of their work describing how activation of autophagy mechanisms using tat beclin-1 shows protection of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in a mouse model. The judges were particularly impressed with the clarity of the statistical methods (item 7a of the guidelines), the reporting of exclusions (item 3c) and details of the experimental animals (item 8) and experimental procedures (item 9). The poster was particularly clear in its organisational structure and design, maximising the readers’ understanding of the science.
Sofia was awarded the BPS A J Clark Studentship in 2023 and continues to aspire to produce high-quality, impactful research in the understanding of pain. Reflecting on her award, Sofia said: “I learnt about the NC3Rs and ARRIVE during my training to obtain an animal research licence. The training set in the principles of good research practice to maximise the benefits of animal research whilst minimising the harms caused. This philosophy has been embedded into my approach to preclinical research every day. The school of biological sciences’ BioResource unit at Reading provide a supportive environment for integration of the 3Rs and to improve experimental design for the studies I conduct.”
Reward your own ARRIVE poster prize
We look forward to working with BPS and other learned societies across disciplines to promote transparent reporting of animal research at all stages of research dissemination in the coming years. If you are interested in maximising the quality of your learned society’s research presentations and publications through the active promotion of ARRIVE, get in touch at ARRIVE@nc3rs.org.uk and consult our supporter’s pages for more information.
[1] https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.15178
[2] https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/assets/14765381/Author%20Guidelines/Author%20Guidelines%20BJP%2010.08.2020.pdf