Pre-specified sample sizes for animal studies; no more 'representative' experiments
Many mouse experiments use so few animals that the results are unreliable, and papers show one 'representative' result out of several tries. Funders should require proper sample-size planning.
Underpowered animal studies produce exaggerated effects when positive and are uninformative when negative. Sample-size justification is required by ARRIVE and by ethics committees in principle but is rarely checked. Funders and journals could require a pre-specified power calculation, the number of independent repeats performed, and reporting of all repeats rather than a representative one.
- Preclinical results do not reproduce · Fewer than half of landmark cancer biology findings reproduce when someone else tries.
- Preclinical models that do not predict people · Nine in ten cancer drugs that work in mice fail in humans. Our models are the reason.
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not linked directly; found by shared links- IdeaMulti-laboratory preclinical trials as the standard for go/no-go decisions
Shares Audit animal studies for randomisation and blinding, published by institution, Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical results do not reproduce, Preclinical models that do not predict people.
- InstitutionThe Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center
Shares Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical results do not reproduce, Preclinical models that do not predict people.
- IdeaMulti-centre randomised animal trials before committing to a human trial
Shares Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical results do not reproduce, Preclinical models that do not predict people.
- IdeaProve the cell line is what you say it is, or the paper does not run
Shares Preclinical results do not reproduce, Preclinical models that do not predict people.
- IdeaScore every model system on how well it predicted real trial results
Shares Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical results do not reproduce, Preclinical models that do not predict people.
- IdeaAn independent replication institute that re-tests key preclinical cancer findings before trials
Shares Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical results do not reproduce.
- IdeaShared reference organoid and PDX panels that every lab can test against
Shares Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical results do not reproduce, Preclinical models that do not predict people.
- IdeaZebrafish avatars for a drug answer within a week
Shares Patient-derived xenografts, Preclinical models that do not predict people.