How NIH's Center for Scientific Review is Addressing Animal Methods Bias. CSR uses the ENQUIRE process to continuously evaluate and update study sections. Recent ENQUIRE evaluations have highlighted the need for study sections to cover NAMs. Study section descriptions are being updated, and new study sections are being formed to better fit emerging methods. CSR is actively recruiting reviewers with NAMs expertise. Applicants can initiate CSR’s bias reporting mechanism. All reports are investigated and affected applications are considered for re-review.

Last year, we urged NIH to take concrete steps to address #AnimalMethodsBias in grant review.

Here's what we learned from the conversation 🧵

#SciencePolicy #SciPol #PeerReview #GrantReview #ResearchFunding #NAMs #NIH #CSR 🧪

2026 Summer Immersion on Innovative Approaches in Science Educating life sciences researchers on human-based nonanimal methods. Applications are now open for the FREE four-day event!

Dr. Krebs will discuss strategies for overcoming #AnimalMethodsBias in a session on barriers in animal-free research.

📆 Apply by April 3rd
✈️ Travel awards are available!

More info: pcrm.org/SummerImmersion
Application: app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/80243...

#NAMs #STEMtraining #PhDChat

March 19–20! Radboud Uni & @unibas.ch are hosting a workshop on the "Transition Beyond Animal Experimentation.”

🗣️ The COLAAB’s Dr. Krebs of @pcrm.org will speak about #AnimalMethodsBias as a barrier to this transition, including the latest evidence & bias mitigation strategies from our group.

How does this impact #AnimalMethodsBias?

When review labor is stretched thin, expertise gaps grow. But appropriate expertise is crucial to ensure that #NAMs studies receive high-quality reviews and that animal-based studies aren’t unfairly favored.

We hear this often.

Innovative, animal‑free research gets slowed by expectations that animal data are required for a study to be considered “complete.”

This #AnimalMethodsBias shapes peer review, funding decisions, and publication.

It's a major barrier blocking the wider adoption of #NAMs.

When a reviewer’s #AnimalMethodsBias colors their comments—by unfairly judging a paper for not using animals—it's not always unprofessional or mean. But it can be discouraging.

Did you miss Dr. Catharine Krebs’ recent webinar about #AnimalMethodsBias? The recording is now online!

If you’ve been looking for a comprehensive overview of our work from the last four (‼️) years, this is it!

#PeerReview #Bias #PhDChat 🧪

💭 Ideas about peer review reforms? We got ‘em!

OSTP recently sought input on evidence-based reforms that could improve funding allocation, peer review, & grant evaluation.

We used this opportunity to raise awareness about #AnimalMethodsBias & provide recommendations for mitigating it.

#SciPol

Frontiers | Addressing animal methods bias through government-led initiatives Peer review aims to ensure that high-quality research is funded, conducted, and disseminated. However, peer review bias limits this process by violating impa...

New publication! 📄 By now you’ve heard about the plans in the US and UK to reduce and replace animal experimentation.

Check out our short perspective on the ways they do or don’t address #AnimalMethodsBias 👉

www.frontiersin.org/journals/tox...

🧪 #SciPol

Interested in how #PeerReview bias affects the adoption of #NAMs?

Join us next week for a webinar where COLAAB member Catharine Krebs, PhD will discuss the nature & impacts of #AnimalMethodsBias & share recommendations for mitigating its effects.

🗓️ Thurs Jan 22
⌚️ 10 am ET

#phdsky #phdchat 🧪

The popular "woman yelling at dinner cat" meme with the following text: "Animal methods bias is inevitable! Not if you use the COLAAB's author guide"

2026 is almost here! If you’re racing to get your manuscript across the finish line, don’t let reviewer bias against nonanimal methods slow you down.

Our Author Guide helps you strengthen your manuscript and avoid #AnimalMethodsBias in manuscript review. 🧪

www.animalmethodsbias.org/author-guide

#AnimalMethodsBias is a #PeerReview bias characterized by a preference for animal-based research methods or a lack of expertise to properly evaluate new approach methodologies ( #NAMs ) and other nonanimal methods.

On behalf of The COLAAB, Physicians Committee scientist Dr. Catharine E. Krebs co-submitted a letter to NIH with recommendations to help reduce #animalmethodsbias during review of #grantapplications.

Learn more: www.pcrm.org/news/good-sc...

This #AnimalMethodsBias can result in unfair assessments of animal-free research.

Paired with the pressure to #PublishOrPerish, it can lead researchers to include animal experiments in their studies without scientific or ethical justification.

Last week, we offered our assistance to #NIH officials in advancing the agency's goal of reforming grant review to better prioritize human-based research.

We also recommended additional steps the agency could take to further mitigate #AnimalMethodsBias in the review process.

#grantreview #scipol

Perhaps two of the most impactful moves, if well executed, will be providing ECRs with non-animal methods training & addressing #AnimalMethodsBias in publishing. For the latter, it should certainly consult @thecolaab.bsky.social!

Will be very interested to see the target areas.

🤞sepsis 🤞

A graphic with a photo of Big Ben on the left and the following text: "Animal methods bias update. UK Home Office will take measures to reduce animal methods bias in publishing. New strategy promises to: "Strengthen the commitment of journal editors to publishing research using alternative methods."" The COLAAB logo is in the bottom right corner.

The UK Home Office's new strategy, "Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods," is an important step toward embracing nonanimal methods.

We took a look at how it will help mitigate #AnimalMethodsBias. 🧵

#scipub #scipol 🧪

a woman says good and bad in a white shirt ALT: a woman says good and bad in a white shirt

For her, the process wasn’t fundamentally different to setting up an animal-based lab.

One key difference?

#AnimalMethodsBias put Dr. Movia at a distinct disadvantage in competitive funding environments.

Well-known 4-panel meme of SpongeBob SquarePants reading a paper and then throwing the paper into the fire and warming his hands. In this version, the paper reads, "Reviewer 3: "These in vitro findings must be validated in an animal model," and SpongeBob is wearing a purple witch hat.

🧛‍♂️ Happy Halloween! What’s scarier than a bad review?

🍬 Reviewers handing out ‘add animal experiments’ comments like candy—even when your human-based study is solid.

👻 Don’t let #AnimalMethodsBias haunt your next paper.

Learn how to protect your work: www.animalmethodsbias.org

When reviewers suggest animal experiments, as in cases of #AnimalMethodsBias, it introduces ethical concerns.

Under pressure to publish, researchers may feel compelled to conduct animal studies without scientific or ethical justification—just to satisfy reviewer demands.

#PublishorPerish

Referring to our landmark study on #AnimalMethodsBias, Celia noted:

“There’s also some evidence that scientific journals are biased in favor of animal-based experiments, and that some researchers use animal methods as insurance against reviewers’ anticipated requests for it later.”

A screenshot from Animalfree Research’s registration webpage for “Perception and Power: Barriers to Animal-Free Research.” The description reads: “Our 15th Forum on the barriers to animal-free research will take place on 10th November 2025 at the Volkshaus Zurich. It is aimed at all people interested in animal-free research and will be held in English. We accept registrations until 5th November 2025.” On the right, there’s a photo of a fluffy orange cat looking into an oval mirror with an ornate gold frame. A lion is reflected in the mirror, looking back at the cat.

Mark your calendars! The COLAAB's Dr. Catharine Krebs will be speaking about #AnimalMethodsBias at the 2025 Animalfree Research Foundation Forum.

"Perception and Power: Barriers to Animal-Free Research" will be on Monday, Nov 10 from 7 - 11am EST.

www.animalmethodsbias.org/events/colaa...

This #PRW2025, we call on publishers, funders, and meta-researchers to investigate and address #AnimalMethodsBias.

Fair peer review is critical—for science, for patients, and for animals.

NAM Journal Volume 1, 2025, 100004 NAM Journal Meeting Report Exploring animal methods bias in biomedical research funding: Workshop proceedings and action steps Author links open overlay panel Catharine E. Krebs a Sven Geissler b Kathrin Herrmann c Kenneth Kandaras d Owen Kavanagh e Laura M. Langan f Francesca Pistollato g Sandeep Raha h Ignacio J. Tripodi i Emily R. Trunnell j

Read our workshop proceedings on how #AnimalMethodsBias can impact grant reviews and funding decisions, plus action steps for researchers and funders.
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...

Text over a photograph of people's hands and arms looking over papers, fading to blue. The text reads: "Fair peer review is critical - for science, for patients, and for animals. This Peer Review Week, we call on publishers, funders, and meta-researchers to investigate and address Animal Methods Bias."

It’s #PeerReviewWeek! We're raising awareness about a methods-based peer review bias, akin to methodological dogmatism or scholarly bias.

#AnimalMethodsBias: reviewers' preference for animal-based methods or lack of expertise leading to unfair assessments of animal-free studies

#SciPub 🧪

🧵

Dr. Emily Trunnell standing at a podium holding a microphone in front of a blue screen displaying the text: “Addressing animal methods bias in scientific publishing.”

In a session on bias, reporting, and assessment, I presented on the work of @thecolaab.bsky.social including this new survey data from Indian researchers facing #AnimalMethodsBias in publishing and funding: doi.org/10.1016/j.na...

2/16

Here, the negative consequences of #AnimalMethodsBias are clear and mirror what we’ve found in recent surveys:

⛔️ Manuscript rejection
⏳ Delay in publication
☹️ Discouragement

Last day of #WC13 tomorrow! It’s been amazing reconnecting & hearing about global efforts to improve science 🧪 for humans and animals. Grateful for the great convos sparked by my talk on #AnimalMethodsBias on behalf of @thecolaab.bsky.social and excited to keep them going!

Screenshot from the PDF version of the linked paper, "A survey to evaluate animal methods bias experienced by India-based researchers in the peer review of manuscripts and grant applications."

🚨 New findings of #AnimalMethodsBias! 🧪

Just published in NAM Journal, our study surveyed India-based researchers about their experiences with animal methods bias in the #peerreview of manuscripts and grant applications:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Graphic showing the logo for the 2025 13th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, a background image of Rio de Janeiro, and a photo of Emily Trunnell. The text reads: “3Rs Integrating 3 Worlds. Human, Animal, and Environmental Health. August 31 – September 5, 2025. Addressing animal methods bias in scientific publishing. Wed Sept 3 11:30am. Session #74. I am speaking!”

Attn #WC13 attendees: Don't miss this talk by COLAAB member @ertrunnell.bsky.social

She'll discuss what #AnimalMethodsBias is, the evidence for it, & how @thecolaab.bsky.social has been working to reduce barriers for #NAMs scientists.

Wed at 11:30!

www.animalmethodsbias.org/events/colaa...