1. How to facilitate SRs:
moving towards evidence-based
translational research
Dr Marlies Leenaars
SYRCLE, Nijmegen

2. Added value of systematic reviews of animal studies
Get an overview of existing knowledge
Help design a clinical trial (patient safety)
Collaboration between disciplines
Transparency in (quality of) all primary studies
Facilitate translational research
Get an idea of missing „inconclusive‟ data
Prevent unnecessary animals studies
New results without using animals

3. Pound et al BMJ 2004,
Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?
'Conclusion: The contribution of animal studies to clinical medicine
requires urgent formal evaluation. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
of the existing animal experiments would represent an important step
forward in this process’

4. Performing SR of animal studies results in:
A valuable publication in a peer reviewed journal
(Hooijmans, J of Alz Dis; van Drongelen, Am J Phys; Wever, PlosOne)
(Impact factor: 3.7 - 4.1)
Costs:
Systematic review: Animal experiment:
-Computer -Computer
-Time -Time
-Animals, housing, materials, etc.
-Analyses of samples
etc
Rough estimate: Rough estimate:
€ 20.000 € 100.000

5. SYRCLE
Since 2008 our research group facilitates:
implementation of SR of animal studies
Education on SRs
Developing methodology for SRs (tools)
Executing SRs
(Inter)national collaboration

6. Implementation of SRs:
Education:
 Increase awareness of potential of concept of SRs
 Improve skills in performing SRs
Developing tools and guidelines:
 Facilitate performing SRs
 Ease the process

7. “If you take a closer look, you see more”

8. Increase awareness
Education for future animal researchers
Since 2009: education on SRs in course on Laboratory
Animal Science (obligatory 2 weeks course)
o Lecture on SRs
o Workshop on: „comprehensive search strategies‟
Quote of student: “This is
so logical. Why is this not
common practice in animal
research?”

9. Increase awareness
Helsinki, Finland
Do like us!
Prof. Rob Scholten, The Dutch Cochrane
Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

10. Increase awareness
www.ccac.wc8.ca

11. Increase awareness
Talks are available on
YouTube via link on:
www.umcn.nl/SYRCLE

12. Implementation of SRs:
Education:
 Increase awareness of potential of concept of SRs
Improve skills in performing SRs
Developing tools and guidelines:
 Facilitate performing SRs
 Ease the process

13. Education to improve (skills in) performing SRs
• Since 2010; 1 EC = 1 week
• In curriculum of Biomedical Sciences MSc. students
Main objectives:
- Improve skills in performing SRs
- Critical appraisal of animal data
- Increase knowledge: move towards
evidence-based translational research
* internal validity
* external validity

14. Student evaluations
Score January 2012: 8.3
Question: Was this topic relevant for you?
 “Zeer leerzaam en state-of-the-art”
 “It gave me a completely different view on animal
studies and published papers”
 “Never done this in another course. Very relevant not
only for animal studies but also for clinical studies”
 “SRs could be very helpful in all majors”

15. Training to improve skills in performing SRs
One day hands-on training for PhD students, researchers
Topics:
1. Comprehensive search strategies
2. Risk of bias assessment
3. Data extraction and meta analysis
February 10th 2012

16. Implementation of SRs:
Education:
 Increase awareness of potential of concept of SRs
 Improve skills in performing SRs
Developing tools and guidelines:
 Facilitate performing SRs
 Ease the process

17. Identify all relevant animal studies
Tools to ease
the process
Tools used
educational
programs

18. Tools to ease the process: identify all animal studies
- Step-by-step guide to identify relevant animal studies
(Leenaars et al., 2012, Laboratory Animals, 46(1), 24-31)
- EMBASE filter to find all animal studies
(De Vries et al., 2011, Laboratory Animals, 45(4), 268-270)
- PubMed filter to find all animal studies
(Hooijmans et al., 2010, Laboratory Animals, 44(3), 170-175)
Open Access available!

19. Quote about tools and guidelines
Sent: Friday 6 July 2012 20:09
Topic: Thank you and I‟m using the articles and guides and
support materials from SYRCLE
“.. It reaffirmed my faith that it is possible to do
much more, now that your group has provided
the Why and Hows, validated by researchers
who use animals.”
Ann Viera: Associate Professor; Veterinary Librarian
Pendergrass AG-VET MED Library
University of Tennessee Knoxville

20. Implementation of SRs of animal studies in the future
Further development education:
Translational research
Curriculum of BSc students
Molecular Mechanisms of disease (MMD) MSc. students
(Inter)national workshops (clinical PhD council)
Further development tools and guidelines (i.e. risk of bias
tool, protocol SR, handbook)
New EU directive 2010/63 on animal experimentation:
o Course on laboratory animal science
o Continuing education

21. SYRCLE
SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation
- Prof. Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga
- Dr Marlies Leenaars
- Dr Carlijn Hooijmans
- Dr Rob de Vries
- MSc Judith van Luijk (PhD student)
Collaboration in Nijmegen:
•
o Prof. Maroeska Rovers •
•
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
o Alice Tillema (Information specialist) •
Department of Operating Rooms
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and HTA
• Department of Surgery
• Department of Urology
www.umcn.nl/SYRCLE • Department of Paediatric Physical Therapy
M.Leenaars@cdl.umcn.nl • IQ Health care
• Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial
Biology
• Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• QM Diagnostics

22. NKCA
Marcel Gyger

23. Thanks for
your attention!