Coalition to Illuminate and Address Animal Methods Bias
@thecolaab.bsky.social
The Coalition to Illuminate and Address Animal Methods Bias is a global collaboration addressing the preference for animal-based research methods or the lack of expertise to adequately evaluate nonanimal methods.
https://www.animalmethodsbias.org/
https://www.animalmethodsbias.org/
➡️ If you're wondering how else you might prevent and address the impacts of animal methods bias, check out our resources at www.animalmethodsbias.org
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www.animalmethodsbias.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
➡️ If you're wondering how else you might prevent and address the impacts of animal methods bias, check out our resources at www.animalmethodsbias.org
Thanks to pilot grants & funding streams that support the #3Rs & animal-free research—including initiatives from @jhucaat.bsky.social & @afruk.bsky.social—she's built momentum for her lab.
Now in her 3rd year, she’s redefining lung models with rigorous, translatable, human-specific findings.
Now in her 3rd year, she’s redefining lung models with rigorous, translatable, human-specific findings.
a man with a mustache says how bout that in blue
ALT: a man with a mustache says how bout that in blue
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Thanks to pilot grants & funding streams that support the #3Rs & animal-free research—including initiatives from @jhucaat.bsky.social & @afruk.bsky.social—she's built momentum for her lab.
Now in her 3rd year, she’s redefining lung models with rigorous, translatable, human-specific findings.
Now in her 3rd year, she’s redefining lung models with rigorous, translatable, human-specific findings.
🗨️ “Non-animal approaches are still often undervalued or seen as 'risky' compared to traditional animal-based studies. Overcoming this is an ongoing process," Dr. Movia said.
an advertisement for law and order shows a man and a woman walking
ALT: an advertisement for law and order shows a man and a woman walking
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
🗨️ “Non-animal approaches are still often undervalued or seen as 'risky' compared to traditional animal-based studies. Overcoming this is an ongoing process," Dr. Movia said.
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.
One key difference?
#AnimalMethodsBias put Dr. Movia at a distinct disadvantage in competitive funding environments.
a woman says good and bad in a white shirt
ALT: a woman says good and bad in a white shirt
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
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.
One key difference?
#AnimalMethodsBias put Dr. Movia at a distinct disadvantage in competitive funding environments.
There are a lot of hurdles to starting a new academic lab.
Finding a department that believes in you, building the right team, and securing funding are just a few.
#academiclife
Finding a department that believes in you, building the right team, and securing funding are just a few.
#academiclife
a man in a lab coat sits at a desk with the words " okaaay let 's go " written above him
ALT: a man in a lab coat sits at a desk with the words " okaaay let 's go " written above him
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
There are a lot of hurdles to starting a new academic lab.
Finding a department that believes in you, building the right team, and securing funding are just a few.
#academiclife
Finding a department that believes in you, building the right team, and securing funding are just a few.
#academiclife
We’ll be expanding on this and other recommendations as a part of an initiative to urge journals to take action to help address animal methods bias.
Stay tuned for more on that as it develops!
Stay tuned for more on that as it develops!
October 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
We’ll be expanding on this and other recommendations as a part of an initiative to urge journals to take action to help address animal methods bias.
Stay tuned for more on that as it develops!
Stay tuned for more on that as it develops!
Among his suggested remedies, Ploegh offers that editors should have—or seek to have—appropriate expertise to evaluate reviewer experiments and intervene when necessary.
We agree and think this is one of the most important mitigation strategies for animal methods bias.
We agree and think this is one of the most important mitigation strategies for animal methods bias.
October 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Among his suggested remedies, Ploegh offers that editors should have—or seek to have—appropriate expertise to evaluate reviewer experiments and intervene when necessary.
We agree and think this is one of the most important mitigation strategies for animal methods bias.
We agree and think this is one of the most important mitigation strategies for animal methods bias.
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
Under pressure to publish, researchers may feel compelled to conduct animal studies without scientific or ethical justification—just to satisfy reviewer demands.
#PublishorPerish
October 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
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
Under pressure to publish, researchers may feel compelled to conduct animal studies without scientific or ethical justification—just to satisfy reviewer demands.
#PublishorPerish
Ploegh said these experiments are often expensive and unnecessary, slowing the pace of research to a crawl without any obvious advantage, and having particularly serious impacts on early career researchers.
Read his short perspective in @nature.com here: www.nature.com/articles/472...
Read his short perspective in @nature.com here: www.nature.com/articles/472...
End the wasteful tyranny of reviewer experiments - Nature
Peer review of scientific papers in top journals is bogged down by unnecessary demands for extra lab work, argues Hidde Ploegh.
www.nature.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Ploegh said these experiments are often expensive and unnecessary, slowing the pace of research to a crawl without any obvious advantage, and having particularly serious impacts on early career researchers.
Read his short perspective in @nature.com here: www.nature.com/articles/472...
Read his short perspective in @nature.com here: www.nature.com/articles/472...
We've since replicated these findings in India-based researchers (www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...), and additional evidence is forthcoming. 👀
A survey to evaluate animal methods bias experienced by India-based researchers in the peer review of manuscripts and grant applications
While peer review during manuscript or grant application forms the cornerstone of scientific evaluation and assessment, this process is also prone to …
www.sciencedirect.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
We've since replicated these findings in India-based researchers (www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...), and additional evidence is forthcoming. 👀
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.”
“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.”
October 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
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.”
“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.”
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.
Fair peer review is critical—for science, for patients, and for animals.
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
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.
Fair peer review is critical—for science, for patients, and for animals.
Read our survey of India-based researchers documenting firsthand experiences of animal methods bias in manuscript and grant #peerreview.
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Read our survey of India-based researchers documenting firsthand experiences of animal methods bias in manuscript and grant #peerreview.
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...
Read our pilot study showing how the predominance of animal-based expertise on NIH neuroscience grant review panels may bias funding outcomes against nonanimal methods.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Predominance of animal-based expertise may bias NIH neuroscience grant review: A pilot study with implications for non-animal methodologies
Despite increased enthusiasm for research methods that can replace the use of animals, the numbers of animals used in science and the funding for animal-based projects remain high. Our work addresses ...
www.biorxiv.org
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Read our pilot study showing how the predominance of animal-based expertise on NIH neuroscience grant review panels may bias funding outcomes against nonanimal methods.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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...
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
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...
doi.org/10.1016/j.na...
Want to learn more or take action?
Here are some resources:
Read our Author Guide for researchers using animal-free methods to help them push back against unnecessary reviewer requests. 👉
www.animalmethodsbias.org/author-guide
Here are some resources:
Read our Author Guide for researchers using animal-free methods to help them push back against unnecessary reviewer requests. 👉
www.animalmethodsbias.org/author-guide
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Want to learn more or take action?
Here are some resources:
Read our Author Guide for researchers using animal-free methods to help them push back against unnecessary reviewer requests. 👉
www.animalmethodsbias.org/author-guide
Here are some resources:
Read our Author Guide for researchers using animal-free methods to help them push back against unnecessary reviewer requests. 👉
www.animalmethodsbias.org/author-guide
The pressure to #PublishOrPerish means some researchers feel compelled to add animal data, even when it isn’t scientifically or ethically justified, just to satisfy reviewers.
Read more in our @frontiersin.bsky.social mini-review:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/dru...
Read more in our @frontiersin.bsky.social mini-review:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/dru...
Frontiers | Confronting the bias towards animal experimentation (animal methods bias)
Laws and policies are in place around the world to promote the replacement and reduction of nonhuman animals in science. These principles are rooted not just...
www.frontiersin.org
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The pressure to #PublishOrPerish means some researchers feel compelled to add animal data, even when it isn’t scientifically or ethically justified, just to satisfy reviewers.
Read more in our @frontiersin.bsky.social mini-review:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/dru...
Read more in our @frontiersin.bsky.social mini-review:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/dru...
New nonanimal approaches, like tissue chips, organoids, and computational models, can capture complex human biology and therapeutic responses.
They’re powerful tools for biomedical research and drug development, but persistent barriers to their wider adoption remain.
They’re powerful tools for biomedical research and drug development, but persistent barriers to their wider adoption remain.
September 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
New nonanimal approaches, like tissue chips, organoids, and computational models, can capture complex human biology and therapeutic responses.
They’re powerful tools for biomedical research and drug development, but persistent barriers to their wider adoption remain.
They’re powerful tools for biomedical research and drug development, but persistent barriers to their wider adoption remain.