Systematic reviews and meta-analyses help to save time in research and provide a resourceefficient methodology that leads to an improvement in the quality of science and animal welfare and thus to an increased implementation of the 3R.
The chances of success (correct prediction) of translation can be improved by a strategic, systematic and transparent approach: with the help of an evidence-based methodology (e.g. meta-regression, Egger regression, trim-and-fill algorithm), systematic reviews and metaanalyses go beyond the techniques of classical narrative systematic reviews. This can significantly address the problem of "publication bias" (Figure 1). Applying an advanced metaanalytic methodology to animal studies to identify, evaluate, select and synthesise all available high-quality research evidence offers the possibility to determine concrete effect sizes for specific therapeutic approaches and thereby critically assess the need for further animal experiments.
