Experimental design in education and training

Poor study design yielding unreliable data is a primary cause of lack of translatability of animal studies. Researchers undertaking projects under the Directive EU2010/63 ought to be able to plan and run experiments according to sound principles, to choose a design that is efficient in use of animals and appropriate for their circumstances, and to analyze and interpret the results correctly. However, there is only little guidance on the specific knowledge and skills actually required for designing, analyzing, and interpreting animal experiments. More importantly, few have reflected upon what such skills should be, or how to teach, develop, and assess them. The WG will first consider the knowledge and skill set needed to achieve competence in design of animal experiments, and then determine how education in experimental design can equip participants with these skills, looking at possibilities for improvement in current provision, and for harmonization across the LAS community. It would aim to produce guidance on the content of courses, on how the material is conveyed, and on assessment of outcome. It would also develop a workshop for those teaching experimental design and statistics, in which techniques for making tuition interesting and informative and for developing skills in experimental design and analysis would be discussed and ideas on content and presentation exchanged.