Rigor and Reproducibility – Nephrology – Grant Application Resource Guide

enhancing rigor and reproducibility in Research

“The goal of this initiative is to enhance reproducibility of research through rigor and transparency. Several years ago, NIH updated application instructions and review language for research grant and mentored career development award applications. Recently, NIH further clarified the language to replace the term “scientific premise” with the term “rigor of the prior research” for applications submitted for due dates of January 25,2019 and beyond. In addition, applicants will describe plans to address any weaknesses in the rigor of prior research within the Research Strategy and reviewers will assess this plan. Implementation of rigor and transparency for individual fellowship, institutional career development and institutional training grant applications will be announced in advance, on a different timeline that allows for training in rigor and transparency to be developed.” -NIH Peer Review (Updated 3.18.19)

See below for further information on the four areas of focus for enhancing reproducibility in NIH applications, as well as helpful links, information, tools, applications and resources for supporting rigor and transparency in research.

NIH Announcements – New Requirements for Rigor & Reproducibility in Grant Applications & Reporting

NIH Policy, Information & Application Resources

Nephrology Grant Resources Page

Featured Research Tools & Applications

LabArchives - Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN)

LabArchives electronic lab notebook is Duke-Supported, multi-disciplinary and designed to help improve research documentation The platform enables researchers to easily create, store, share and manage their research data. Incorporating the use of an ELN into your team’s data management SOP will bolster research transparency, enhance rigor and reproducibility and support research integrity. Continue to the read more section below for an overview of ELN features, helpful links and instructions on how to register.

Key features of LabArchives @ Duke:

Compatible to work on multiple platforms and devices (iOS and Android)
Replace the paper notebook to better monitor, engage and evaluate your teams lab work
Notebook users access can be managed to allow access rights to certain notebooks, pages and or entries
Interconnect all your lab data and image files to your observation and notes
Create and adhere to funding agency data management plans which require data sharing (via public URL or DOI)
Easily import and access digital experimental data captures from original lab machines produced by hardware/software
Lab team can easily upload images and videos directly to their notebook while conducting experiments
Complete audit control – tracks and stores ALL revisions by users for every entry – No entry can be deleted – Protected IP
Publish and share selected data or entire notebooks to specific individuals or the public.

Free account for anyone with a Duke netID
Secure data storage on the LabArchives cloud-based server
Unlimited storage for files under 15GB

NOTE: No sensitive data or Protected Health Information may be stored in your LabArchives notebooks, See the FAQ sheet or contact ASIST for information on where you may store sensitive data at Duke.

To create an account:

Go to https://mynotebook.labarchives.com/login
Select “Duke University” on the dropdown list
Login using your Duke Credentials

NEW! You can now sign-in to your LabArchives account through the “my Links” widget in MyRESEARCHhome!

Register for free training webinars through LabArchives, here, to a more comprehensive walk through of the platform, highlight of the key features, and personalization options.

Experimental Design Assistant (EDA)

The EDA is a free web-based application, created by NC3R (National Centre for the Replacement Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research)which helps researchers improve the design of animal experiments to yield robust and reproducible data using the minimum number of animals consistent with the scientific objectives.

Continue to the read more section below for an additional details and helpful links for getting started.

The EDA tool is aimed for use by scientists who use animals in their research. The graphical interface allows the user to design the experiment as a diagram which will then provide feedback on recommended statistical analysis methods, support for randomization and blinding and sample size calculations.

It equips researchers with practical information and knowledge to understand the implications for choosing a particular design and determining the most efficient strategy suited for their scientific objectives.

Visit the EDA webpage to register for a free account. On this page you will find access more information about the tool, educational resources on experimental design, and application user guide.

The website will also provide training videos and tutorials for using the platform and well as how to cite the EDA tool in grant applications and publications.

Additional resources relating to the EDA web application.

Refer to the NC3Rs webpage for more resources, tools and guidelines applicable in all areas of animal research. ‘Science-led and evidence-based, the NC3Rs also fund research and early investigators, foster collaborations between universities and industry and commercialize 3R technologies and provide information on the latest advances to put the 3Rs into practice’

Download the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) Guidelines developed as part of the NC3Rs initiative to improve design, analysis and reporting of researching using animals. The guidelines are intended to aid novice and experiences authors, journal editors, peer reviewers and funding bodies in the preparation and/or review of manuscripts submitted for publication and/or grant applications. Refer to the NC3Rs ARRIVE webpage for more information.

Critical Temperature Monitoring System

Minus80 Monitoring provides an easy, effective and economical way to remotely monitor and record critical parameters for any type of temperature controlled unit including; -20C freezers, -80C Ultra low temperature freezers, liquid nitrogen freezers (LN2), refrigerators, incubators, water baths and cold rooms.

Real time monitoring, alerting and reporting via a user friendly and customizable online interface, Minus80 Monitoring has quickly become one of the leading providers of a critical temperature monitoring systems at Duke University laboratories. Continue to the read more section below for additional information, useful links and contacts for getting started.

Refer to the Minus80 Homepage and ‘How it Works’ section for an excellent breakdown of how the system operates and complete summary of features included.

For more information on the system or to request the installation of a minus80 monitoring system for your labs equipment, contact Minus80 directly via the following:

Call 855.MINUS80 (855.646.8780)

Sales: sales@minus80monitoring.com

Support: support@minus80monitoring.com

General Info: info@minus80monitoring.com

The Duke University assigned Minus80 representative is Britt Carter (contact information below) who serves as the main point of contact for Nephrology and HVI labs in MSRBII.

Britt Carter, Minus80 Monitoring NC Business Manager / Sales & Support

(cell) 919-302-0012, bcarter@minus80monitoring.com

Protocols.io - Science Methods Repository

Protocol.io is a free to use, crowd-source protocol repository for researchers. The platform enables researchers to run public or private protocols step by step, develop and improve upon methods and publish. Protocols can be shared with collaborators for real time troubleshooting to further optimize protocol development or be made public to receive feedback, comments and suggestions from other researchers within protocols.io.

Continue to the read more section for additional information and useful links to get started.

Duke Digital Repository

The Duke Digital Repository (DDR) is a Duke University Libraries supported service built upon data management and curation for Research at Duke, open access to scholarly publications for Duke authors, and management of digital library collections owned by Duke.

Continue to the read more section below for additional information on the Research Data Repository, useful links and contacts for getting started.

The Research Data Repository (RDR) is a service of the Duke Digital Repository for the curation and preservation of research data at Duke University and is accessible to all members of the Duke Community with a valid NetID.

Through the RDR, researchers can browse datasets and deposit their own research data into the repository. Participating in the open access community can enable researchers to

1) Maximize research impact and visibility

2) Fulfill agency and journal reporting requirements and

3) Ensure data is preserved and accessible through a secure platform