IACUC Resources and Searching Tips

Example of Search Strategies

PubMed searches with Medical Subject Headings

Phase I (Reduction and Refinement) - To reduce pain/complications

YOUR TOPIC/ SPECIES/OBJECTIVE/PROCEDURE AND (("Models, Animal"[Mesh] OR "Animal Experimentation"[Mesh]) AND ("Anesthesia and Analgesia"[Mesh] OR "Animal Welfare"[Mesh] OR “Euthanasia, Animal"[Mesh] OR “pain recognition” OR “pain assessment” OR “pain control” OR “pain relief” OR anxiolytic OR analges* OR anesth* OR anasthe* OR tranquiliz* OR sedative*)  

 YOUR ANIMAL TYPE AND/OR PROCEDURE AND ("Intraoperative Complications"[Mesh] OR "Postoperative Complications"[Mesh] OR "Perioperative Care"[Mesh] OR “postsurgical care”)

Phase II (Replacement) - Non-animal models/alternatives

YOUR TOPIC/OBJECTIVE AND ("Animal Testing Alternatives"[Mesh] OR "Animal Use Alternatives"[Mesh]) NOT ("Animals"[Mesh] OR "Humans"[Mesh])

YOUR PROCEDURE AND (("Animal Use Alternatives"[Mesh] OR "Animal Welfare"[Mesh] OR "Animal Care Committees"[Mesh] OR IACUC [tiab]) OR ((reduce OR refine OR replace) AND ("Animals"[Mesh] OR animal*[All Fields]) AND ("Research Design"[Mesh] OR "research design" OR test OR testing)))

YOUR TOPIC/OBJECTIVE AND (("Models, Theoretical"[Mesh] NOT "Disease Models, Animal"[Mesh]) OR "Computer Simulation"[Mesh] OR "Cadaver"[Mesh] OR "Culture Techniques"[Mesh] OR "Cells, Cultured"[Mesh] OR "In Vitro Techniques"[Mesh] OR "Tissue Culture Techniques"[Mesh])

Web of Science keyword searches

Phase I (Reduction and Refinement) - To reduce pain/complications

YOUR TOPIC/ SPECIES/OBJECTIVE/PROCEDURE AND (“animal model” OR “animal models” OR “laboratory animal models” OR “laboratory animal model” OR “experimental animal models” OR “experimental animal model” OR “animal experimentation” OR “animal research” OR “animal experimental use” OR “animal experiments” AND sedation OR "animal welfare” OR “animal euthanasia” OR “animal mercy killing” OR “pain recognition” OR “pain assessment” OR “pain control” OR “pain relief” OR anxiolytic* OR analges* OR anesth* OR anasthe* OR tranquiliz* OR sedative*)  

 YOUR ANIMAL TYPE AND/OR PROCEDURE AND ("Perioperative Complication" OR "Perioperative Complications" OR "Intraoperative Complication" OR "Surgical Injury" OR "Surgical Injuries" OR "Postoperative Complications" OR "Postoperative Complication" OR "Perioperative Care" OR "postsurgical care" OR "post-surgical care" OR "post surgical care")

Phase II (Replacement) - Non-animal models/alternatives

YOUR PROCEDURE AND ("theoretical model" OR "theoretical models" OR "theoretical study" OR "theoretical studies" OR "experimental model" OR "experimental models" OR "mathematical model" OR "computer simulation" OR "computer simulations" OR "computerized model" OR "computerized models" OR "in silico" OR cadaver* OR copse* OR "culture techniques" OR "culture technique" OR "cell culture" OR "tissue culture" OR "cell cultures" OR "cell culture technique" OR "cell culture techniques" OR "in vitro techniques" OR "in vitro technique" OR "tissue culture techniques" OR "tissue culture technique") NOT TOPIC: ("animal disease model" OR animal disease models)

YOUR PROCEDURE AND ("animal testing alternatives" OR “animal testing alternatives” OR “alternatives to animal testing” OR “alternative to animal testing” OR "animal use alternatives" OR “animal use alternative” OR “animal experimentation alternative” OR “animal experimentation alternatives” OR "Animal Care Committees” OR “Animal Care Committee” OR "Animal Ethics Committee” OR "Animal Ethics Committee” OR IACUC “Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees” OR “Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee” OR reduce OR refine OR replace) AND TOPIC: ("research design" OR “research designs” OR “research technique” OR “research techniques” OR “experimental design” OR "experimental designs” OR test OR tests OR testing) AND TOPIC: (animal*) 

Example Keywords

Consider a diverse array of keywords for the Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement concepts of your search, such as the following: