SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation SYRCLE

Support and coaching

SYRCLE can provide coaching in the conduct of a systematic review of animal studies. The support can involve both face to face meetings or discussions via telephone, SKYPE or email. Support can include:

• Help with formulating a suitable and specific research question
• Advice on how to fill out the protocol for your review
• Feedback on the PubMed search strategy you have developed
• Help with translating it into a strategy for e.g. Embase
• Assistance in formulating inclusion and exclusion criteria and the criteria for the risk of bias assessment
• Advice on whether it is possible to perform a meta-analysis and, if so, which type of meta-analysis

Researchersaffiliated with Dutch research institutes can apply for funding at ZonMw.

Tools and guidelines

0. Starting guide

This tool provides practical guidance in how to design, plan and conduct your own systematic reviews (and meta-analysis) of animal studies. It is largely based on the experience we obtained at SYRCLE over the last 10 years in our own reseach and supervising systematic reviews of animal studies. 
N.B. We recommend training and coaching by an expert when conducting your first SR of animal studies.

1. Protocol

A protocol format for the preparation, registration and publication of systematic reviews of animal intervention studies. Read full text paper.
Fillable protocol format (MS Word)

2. Search

SYRCLE had developed various search tools for finding all relevant primary animal studies.
2.1 Step-by-step search guide
A practical step-by-step guide to develop a systematic search to identify all relevant animal studies. Click here for the full publication (Leenaars et al. 2012).
2.2 Search filters
     2.2.1 Pubmed search filter for animal studies.
     - Click here for the full publication (Hooijmans et al. 2010)
     - Click here to copy and paste the filter
     2.2.2 Embase search filter for animal studies
     - Click here for the full publication (de Vries et al. 2014)
     - Click here to copy and paste the filter

3. Risk of Bias assessment

A tool by SYRCLE for assessing the risk of bias of animal intervention studies. Read full text paper.
SYRCLE’s RoB tool

4. Meta-analysis

An introduction
A practical guide

Protocols

syrcle@umcn.nl

SYRCLE provides registration of protocols for systematic reviews of animal studies on this webpage. Since 2018, protocols of systematic reviews of animal studies relevant to human health can be registered on PROSPERO and will no longer be registered here. It is still possible to register protocols for systematic reviews of animal studies not directly relevant to human health (e.g. in laboratory animal sciences or veterinary sciences). If you wish to do so, please contact us at syrcle@umcn.nl.

• 2018

  • Terstappen et. al. (2018) L-Arginine during pregnancy – a preclinical meta-analysis on fetal growth and maternal blood pressure
  • da Costa et. al. (2018)  Molecular and serological surveys of canine distemper virus: a cohort study and meta-analysis (Original protocol) and (Updated protocol)
     

• 2017

  • Menon et al. (2017) Quantification of translational success: rates of concordance between the results of animal experiments and human trials – A systematized review
  • Hollyer et al. (2017) The role of lactate in cerebral microvascular physiology: a systematic review
  • Menon et al. (2017) Neurotransmitters and metabolites in brain microdialysates under sleep, circadian rhythms and sleep deprivation conditions – A systematic review
  • Flávia Sordi et al. (2017) Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on the body composition of obese rodents: a systematic review with meta-analysis
  • Abunar et al (2017) Stem cells therapy for chronic temporal lobe epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies
  • Adil et al (2017) Effect of anti-diabetic drugs on bone: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of animal studies
  • Roemers et al. (2017) Cognitive deficits in targeted knock-in APOE4 mice: A systemic review
  • Turner et al. (2017) The use of carbon dioxide as a method for euthanasia of laboratory mice and rats– a systematic review
  • Ineichen et al. (2017) Remyelination promoting therapies in multiple sclerosis animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • de Haan et al (2017) Animal models of adverse cardiac remodeling after transverse aortic constriction: the influence of species, strain and sex
  • Jäkel et al (2017) Relevance of animal models to human cerebral amyloid angiopathy and microbleeds (preliminary title)
  • See Hoe et al (2017) Animal models of heart transplantation from brain dead donors: A systematic review
  • Smit et al (2017) Hyperoxic Vasconstriction (working title)Search strategy
  • Al-Waeli et al (2017) Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and bone healing in animal Models -  Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  • Menting et al (2017) What are the post-natal effects of maternal (pre-)pregnancy obesity on the offspring? Evidence from animal studies
  • Leenaars et al (2017) Amino acids in microdialysates
  • Koster et al (2017) Animal models of retinal pigment epithelium transplantation: a systematic review
  • Da Silva et al (2017) A meta-analysis of ethanol withdrawal effects on anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish
  • Flávia Sordi et al (2017) Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on the body composition of obese rodents: a systematic review with meta-analysis

• 2016

  • Rando et al (2016) The effects of perinatal SSRI exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of mammalian animal studies Suppl file: search strategy
  • Gadgil et al (2016) Chemotherapy induced (peripheral) polyneuropathy: A systematic review in animal studies
  • Camargo et al (2016) Diabetes mellitus and bone regeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies
  • Jape et al (2016) A systematic review of probiotics and experimental necrotizing enterocolitis
  • Fliefel et al (2016) Gene Therapy For Bone Defects In Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
  • Millar et al (2016) Animal models of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) supported by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): A systematic review  
  • Deckers et al (2016) The protective effect of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on articular cartilage: a systematic review of animal studies
  • Kruit et al (2016) Extracorporeal perfusion of free tissue flaps and limbs – a systematic review
  • Paulino da Silva Filho et al (2016) The Most Suitable Form to Delivery Antisense Oligonucleotides for Heritable Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Treatment: a Systematic Review
  • Prata de Oliveira et al (2016) Natural products for experimental orofacial pain and temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review [Provisional title]
  • Wever et al (2016) Stem cell therapy in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury
  • Leenaars et al (2016) Experimental design in methotrexate efficacy studies for rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sadati et al (2016) Medicinal plants and Natural Compounds in the treatment of experimental endometriosis: a systematic review
  • van der Mierden et al (2016) Adenosine concentrations in microdialysates
  • Jellestad et al (2016) Are we overestimating the utility of hair glucocorticoids? A systematic review exploring the empirical evidence supporting hair glucocorticoids as a measure of stress.
  • Sridharan et al (2016) Herbal medicines and dietary supplements in the management of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review of animal studies
  • Moreira de Britto et al (2016) Natural plants in the treatment of experimentalmyocardial injury: a systematic review [provisional title]
  • Haugland et al (2016) Systemic factor effects on orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption: A systematic literature review [provisional title].

• 2015

  • den Boogert et al (2015) Pre- and postconditioning methods in traumatic brain injury - A systematic review of animal studies.
  • Leenaars et al (2015) Animal models for studying potential cystic fibrosis treatments ‐ A systematic review.
  • Gomes Santana et al (2015) Natural plants in the treatment of experimental acute pancreatitis: a systematic review.
  • Hooijmans et al (2015) A Systematic Review of the Modifying Effect of Anaesthetic Drugs on Metastasis in Animal Models for Cancer. Suppl file: Search Strategy
  • Mihajlovic et al (2015) Safety of using immortalized cell lines as treatment cell therapy in animal models for kidney diseases
  • Schneider et al (2015) Assessment of lower urinary tract function in rodents: a systematic review for consensus statement on terminology and normal values. Suppl file: Embase Search Strategy
  • Wever et al (2015) Discomfort due to toe and ear clipping in rodents
  • Bricca et al (2015) Impact of exercise on knee joint cartilage structure in animals - a systematic review
  • Wassenaar et al (2015) The effects of early-life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals on obesity development in rodents: a systematic review.
  • Hesen et al (2015) Effects of metformin on ischemic myocardial injury 
  • Hooijmans et al (2015) Does analgesic treatment reduce the number or incidence of metastasis in experimental cancer?
  • Khatib et al (2015) Effect of Ghrelin on food intake and body composition in experimental rat and mice models of cancer cachexia
  • Jonker et al (2015) Ischemic postconditioning of the kidney – a systematic review of animal studies
  • Li et al (2015) Anti-tumor effects of Metformin in Animal Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• 2014

  • Strik et al. (2014) The efficacy of anti-adhesive barriers in preventing adhesion formation and reformation in animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Belgers et al (2014) The effects of ibogaine on drug use in the animal model of addiction, a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Rongen et al. (2014) The translational gap in research about meniscus allograft
  • Yan et al (2014) Cell-based approaches in periodontal regeneration: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies

Training and education

E-learning module

We offer a free and online e-learning module on systematic reviews of animal studies. (Use SYRCLE registration code.)
> go to SYRCLE login page

Hands-on training

Winter school in Systematic reviews
Trinity College Dublin
14th -18th January 2019
> more information and registration

In-house workshops

Dutch research institutes can host an in-house workshop. You can contact us (syrcle@radboudumc.nl) for more information or visit the ZonMw website.