Where there is no alternative to the use of animals in biomedical research, it is important that experiments are well designed and correctly analysed in order to minimise pain and maximize the chance of getting scientifically valid results. Experiments that use too few animals may fail to pick up biologically important effects, while those who use them incorrectly or wastefully may get invalid results while subjecting the animals to unnecessary pain, distress or lasting harm. The Design of Animal Experiments is intended for all research scientists who use laboratory animals, with the aim of helping them to design their own experiments more effectively and/or to improve their ability to communicate with professional statisticians when necessary. It covers all randomised controlled experimental designs likely to be needed in laboratory animal research, with worked examples showing how they can be statistically analysed. It suggests the more widespread use of randomised block designs and shows how both males and females can be included in an experiment without the need to increase the total number of animals by using factorial designs. It also includes guidance on the choice of experimental animals. The book covers the learning outcomes of Module 10 and part (ii) of Module 11 of education and training under Directive 2010/63/EU.

"Where there is no alternative to the use of experimental animals in biomedical research, it is important that experiments are well designed and correctly analysed in order to maximize the chance of getting scientifically valid results. Experiments that use too few animals may fail to pick up biologically important effects, while those that use too many or use them incorrectly may be subjecting them to unnecessary pain, distress or lasting harm. This book is aimed at all research scientists who use laboratory animals, with the aim of helping them to design their own experiments more effectively and/or to improve their ability to communicate with professional statisticians when designing more complex experiments. It covers many aspects of experimental design, such as choice of experimental animal, which are not considered by most statistics textbooks. Conversely, it does not cover the more advanced designs or statistical methods, so it should, ideally, be used in conjunction with more conventional statistics textbooks."--Page 4 of cover.

"Where there is no alternative to the use of experimental animals in biomedical research, it is important that experiments are well designed and correctly analysed in order to maximize the chance of getting scientifically valid results. Experiments that use too few animals may fail to pick up biologically important effects, while those that use too many or use them incorrectly may be subjecting them to unnecessary pain, distress or lasting harm. This book is aimed at all research scientists who use laboratory animals, with the aim of helping them to design their own experiments more effectively and/or to improve their ability to communicate with professional statisticians when designing more complex experiments. It covers many aspects of experimental design, such as choice of experimental animal, which are not considered by most statistics textbooks. Conversely, it does not cover the more advanced designs or statistical methods, so it should, ideally, be used in conjunction with more conventional statistics textbooks."--Page 4 of cover.

This book will provide scientists with a better understanding of statistics, improving their decision-making and reducing animal use.

The publication of research articles involving animal studies is central to many disciplines in science and biomedicine. Effective descriptions in such publications enable researchers to interpret the data, evaluate and replicate findings, and move the science forward. Analyses of published studies with research animals have demonstrated numerous deficiencies in the reporting of details in research methods for animal studies. Considerable variation in the amount of information required by scientific publications and reported by authors undermines this basic scientific principle and results in the unnecessary use of animals and other resources in failed efforts to reproduce study results. Guidance for the Description of Animal Research in Scientific Publications outlines the information that should be included in scientific papers regarding the animal studies to ensure that the study can be replicated. The report urges journal editors to actively promote effective and ethical research by encouraging the provision of sufficient information. Examples of this information include: conditions of housing and husbandry, genetic nomenclature, microbial status, detailed experimental manipulations, and handling and use of pharmaceuticals. Inclusion of this information will enable assessment and interpretation of research findings and advancement of knowledge based on reproducible results.

Scientific experiments using animals have contributed significantly to the improvement of human health. Animal experiments were crucial to the conquest of polio, for example, and they will undoubtedly be one of the keystones in AIDS research. However, some persons believe that the cost to the animals is often high. Authored by a committee of experts from various fields, this book discusses the benefits that have resulted from animal research, the scope of animal research today, the concerns of advocates of animal welfare, and the prospects for finding alternatives to animal use. The authors conclude with specific recommendations for more consistent government action.

Experimental Design and Analysis in Animals Sciences is the first book to provide detailed instructions on the design and analysis of experiments in animals sciences. Not only does it provide descriptions of the statistics of experiment design, this guide-book contains examples and suggestions that help students in their decisions on which tools are appropriate for each circumstance. The subjects covered include interpretation of dose-response experiments, change-over designs, experiments with animals in pens and paddocks, and balanced and unbalanced designs. This book will be indispensable for any graduate or advanced undergraduate student in the animal sciences.