Clinical relevance assessment of animal preclinical research (RAA) tool: development and explanation

TLDR

Only a small proportion of preclinical animal research translates into clinical benefit, largely due to shortcomings in study design, conduct, and reporting, and no formal domain‑based assessment of clinical relevance currently exists. The authors developed a tool to assess the likelihood that preclinical findings can translate into improved human disease management. The tool was built through a systematic review of EQUATOR guidelines, expansion via reference mining, and a modified Delphi consensus involving 20 experts, resulting in eight domains and 28 signalling questions. The resulting tool, comprising eight domains and 28 signalling questions, is currently being piloted.

Abstract

Only a small proportion of preclinical research (research performed in animal models prior to clinical trials in humans) translates into clinical benefit in humans. Possible reasons for the lack of translation of the results observed in preclinical research into human clinical benefit include the design, conduct, and reporting of preclinical studies. There is currently no formal domain-based assessment of the clinical relevance of preclinical research. To address this issue, we have developed a tool for the assessment of the clinical relevance of preclinical studies, with the intention of assessing the likelihood that therapeutic preclinical findings can be translated into improvement in the management of human diseases.We searched the EQUATOR network for guidelines that describe the design, conduct, and reporting of preclinical research. We searched the references of these guidelines to identify further relevant publications and developed a set of domains and signalling questions. We then conducted a modified Delphi-consensus to refine and develop the tool. The Delphi panel members included specialists in evidence-based (preclinical) medicine specialists, methodologists, preclinical animal researchers, a veterinarian, and clinical researchers. A total of 20 Delphi-panel members completed the first round and 17 members from five countries completed all three rounds.This tool has eight domains (construct validity, external validity, risk of bias, experimental design and data analysis plan, reproducibility and replicability of methods and results in the same model, research integrity, and research transparency) and a total of 28 signalling questions and provides a framework for researchers, journal editors, grant funders, and regulatory authorities to assess the potential clinical relevance of preclinical animal research.We have developed a tool to assess the clinical relevance of preclinical studies. This tool is currently being piloted.