Sound experimental design is key to the conduct of rigorous and reproducible science, and essential for the responsible use of animals in research. Discover resources available to support the development of unbiased, well-controlled studies, and strategies for reporting the results.
Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) Guidelines
The ARRIVE Guidelines are a checklist of information to include in publications reporting animal research. They also include advice on experimental design, minimization of bias, sample size and statistical analyses. NIH encourages the use of the ARRIVE guidelines in all NIH-supported work involving vertebrate animals and cephalopods.
Experimental Design Assistant
This tool developed by the National Center for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) is designed to guide researchers through the design of their experiments, helping to ensure that they use the minimum number of animals consistent with their scientific objectives, methods to reduce subjective bias, and appropriate statistical analysis.
Mouse Breeding Calculator
This tool developed by the University of Zurich helps researchers estimate of the number of required breedings needed to obtain mice of a desired genotype and/or sex. Users can define the strain, sex, and time period in which the animals should be born.
Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence (PREPARE) Guidelines
A large number of factors can influence the validity and outcome of animal studies. The PREPARE Guidelines aim to support the development of safe, high-quality studies by outlining 15 topics to consider when planning an experiment. Topics include experimental design and statistics, conversations to have with your animal facility, and quality control measures to implement throughout the study.
Statistical Consulting Services
The University of Washington’s Department of Statistics offers free statistical advice to faculty, staff, and students through scheduled 50-minute consulting appointments. They can provide assistance with study design, as well as choice and application of statistical methods.