"Systematic reviews are of great interest to the research community"

The four-day event was organised by the Zurich-based STRIDE-Lab (part of the University of Zurich’s Center for Reproducible Science) and Norecopa (Norway’s 3R centre). The event focused on the role of systematic reviews (SRs) of animal studies in preclinical research. An SR is a structured summary relating to a specific research question which provides a way to represent an entire research field or to evaluate the validity of a research method. It can furnish important information on all aspects of a study involving animals and demonstrate which scientific insights have already been gained on this research question.

We asked Benjamin Ineichen, founder of the STRIDE-Lab and co-organiser of the Summer School, a few retrospective questions:

What role do SRs play in the 3R field?

SRs identify all relevant studies on a topic and summarise them. In this way, they ensure that no important information is being overlooked. This comprehensive analysis can be a way to gain new insights without conducting more animal research, for example in selecting appropriate animal models, species and dosages of medicines. This is particularly important for evidence-based animal research.

How can SRs help refine, reduce and replace animal studies?

An SR can, for example, show that a medicine that has been tested on animals is not effective for humans. This indicates that the animal model used may not be suitable for preclinical drug trials. In this way, SRs can help reduce animal experimentation in that they stop unsuccessful tests being repeated.

Moreover, they make it possible to adjust research methods to reduce animal suffering by causing less pain. For example, many medicines that looked promising during animal testing have proved ineffective in treating strokes in humans. Via SRs, it was discovered that many of these medicines had been tested on young and otherwise healthy animals, which does not reflect the reality for the typical stroke patient: these patients are often already older and usually have a number of pre-existing conditions. Medicines tested on older animals with high blood pressure also performed better in humans.

In what area did the Summer School participants gain the most benefit?

The participants benefited most from the course format: through practical application they were able to work on their own SRs and gain practical experience with the method. This meant that they not only acquired a certain independence in terms of the methodology, but also recognised the value and necessity of such reviews. Many of the participants were convinced that they would be using the method in their future work.

Another especially valuable aspect was the practical tips provided on how to conduct SRs, for example on literature searches and data extraction. The course also addressed the issue that many published reviews are of poor quality; this gave the participants a clear idea of what is and what is not to be considered in the method.

What are the most important insights that you yourself gained from these three days?

Two important insights I gained are, firstly, that SRs are a topic of great interest to the research community: in both years when we ran the school, we had many applications, and in the end were unable to accommodate all applicants. I find it motivating to see that there is a great deal of interest in this method.

Secondly, I realised that the methods require time and cannot be mastered in a day or two. To gain a better understanding, several days of dedicated commitment are required. The time available to us during the Summer School was thus key to adequately convey the content and to develop practical skills.

Where do barriers still exist to implementing this method?

In many geographical regions, this expertise in the field of SRs is not yet widespread. What is positive, however, is that prominent 3R organisations are showing an interest in this important method. In a dialogue with Adrian Smith, the Secretary of Norecopa, we were asked if we would be interested in presenting the method in Norway. That’s how we came to hold this year’s Summer School at the University of Bergen and implement this successful collaboration with Norecopa, one of the biggest 3R organisations in Europe.

How was the weather?

It rained the whole time. But Bergen is still a beautiful city, even in the rain.

Are there plans for a Summer School in 2025?

Yes. It will most likely be held in Bergen again, from 19 to 22 August 2025. We are looking forward to it already!