Data and subject heterogeneity and data sharing: keys to translational success in spinal cord injury research?

Neural Regeneration Research, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.363191 · Published: August 1, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Healthcare Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) research faces challenges in translating treatments from the lab to the clinic due to subject heterogeneity and a lack of transparent reporting. Age is a key factor in SCI recovery, and using varied age groups in animal models can improve the translational relevance of research. Incidental findings and negative data are often overlooked, but they can provide valuable insights when shared openly and analyzed using bioinformatics.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Rodent models of SCI

Evidence Level

Perspective

Key Findings

1
Older mice responded worse to antioxidant treatment after SCI, despite restored glutathione levels and reduced oxidative damage.
2
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in the spinal cord increase in an age- and sex-dependent manner after SCI.
3
Limiting studies to a single age or sex may mask unforeseen effects across different demographic populations.

Research Summary

The perspective discusses the challenges of translating spinal cord injury (SCI) research findings into clinical treatments due to subject heterogeneity and lack of transparency in data reporting. It emphasizes the importance of including diverse subject characteristics, such as age and sex, in preclinical studies to better model clinical reality and improve translational relevance. The authors advocate for open data sharing and the publication of incidental or negative data to enhance research transparency, reduce bias, and facilitate knowledge translation in the field of SCI research.

Practical Implications

Improve Preclinical Models

Incorporate subject heterogeneity (age, sex) in preclinical studies to better reflect the clinical population.

Promote Data Sharing

Utilize open data repositories to share all research findings, including incidental and negative data.

Revise Funding and Publication

Adjust funding and publication systems to reward the reporting of diverse and comprehensive data.

Study Limitations

1
The perspective is based on the authors' experiences and observations, which may be subject to bias.
2
The suggestions for increasing data heterogeneity and transparency may require significant changes to the current research infrastructure and funding models.
3
The impact of incidental findings and negative data on translational success is speculative and requires further investigation.

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