Literature searches should be well documented, including information on:
- Evidence from the literature that the animal studies have not been performed previously, or that repetition is justified
- Consultation of relevant guidelines for specific parts of the study
Using The Replacement Checklist
Replacing Animal Research have produced The Replacement Checklist to assist researchers in identifying Replacement Alternatives to animal use. See also:
- Dukes, Beale & Camp (2025): Reviewing Current Guidance for the 'R' of Replacement and Rethinking it with the 'Replacement Checklist'
- A recorded webinar about use of the checklist
- A worked example of a literature search, looking for alternatives to animals in studies of Multiple Sclerosis
There is more information on Literature searches and systematic reviews and on this webpage about SYRCLE.
More resources
- Krebs et al. (2024): Exploring animal methods bias in biomedical research funding: Workshop proceedings and action steps
- Cassotta et al. (2024): Human-based new approach methodologies to accelerate advances in nutrition research
- Krebs et al. (2023): Author Guide for Addressing Animal Methods Bias in Publishing
- Adapting to Changes in Publishing When Searching for Alternatives and Reporting on Animal Research: A Librarian’s Perspective (Ratajeski & Miller, 2022) - citing the effect of the PREPARE guidelines
- Literature Searching: How to Find Animal Use Alternatives (Resource page from AWIC)
- Advice on determining and describing the scientific background for an experiment
- A worksheet for a literature search for alternatives and more resources from AWIC
- A 6 Step Checklist for Responsible Research gives a useful summary of the overarching principles to be applied when conducting any type of biomedical research (produced by Responsible Research in Practice).
- Guide to identifying alternative non-animal methods from the scientific literature, webinar (Wynand Alkema), 14 April 2021