Supporting Good Antibody Practice at Your Institution

[Dear NAME,] I'm writing to suggest a small addition to our doctoral training programme that would have an outsized impact on research quality: a requirement that any student using antibody-based methods completes a short piece of e-learning, and — ideally — has access to a practical workshop before choosing their antibodies. The context: over 50% of commercial antibodies fail independent testing, and the resulting waste is substantial. Closer to home, a recent systematic analysis of 785 publications using poorly performing antibodies found that only 15.8% presented any validation evidence. Those studies consumed more than 8,000 animal samples and 4,400 human tissue samples — most without evidence the antibodies were fit for purpose. The Only Good Antibodies community has developed free resources aligned to this problem: • OGA Academy — four free self-paced e-learning modules (~45 minutes total, with quizzes and completion certificates). This could become a required element of our DTP induction or handbook. • Antibody Champions workshops — a 90-minute online session where researchers bring their own targets and work through antibody selection decisions live. Three ways we could offer this: nominate one of our PhD students to become an Antibody Champion (they get training and resourcing); resource an existing staff member to run sessions; or request a visiting Champion from the national network. An international Delphi consensus study with 32 experts rated institutional training in antibody validation as the highest-priority intervention for improving reproducibility — and the only stakeholder group where all recommendations achieved full consensus without feasibility concerns. Would it be worth a short conversation about how this could slot into our existing training? Happy to share the materials and discuss. More information: onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/roadmap/institutions Best wishes, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ROLE / DEPARTMENT / INSTITUTION]

[Dear TITLE NAME,] I'm writing to flag a piece of freely available policy text that would strengthen [INSTITUTION]'s research integrity framework in an area where there is increasing external scrutiny: antibody validation. The underpinning evidence is stark. A systematic analysis of 785 publications using antibodies with demonstrated poor performance found that only 15.8% presented any validation evidence. The studies consumed more than 8,000 animal samples and 4,400 human tissue samples without evidence the antibodies were fit for purpose. A Delphi consensus study with 32 international experts subsequently identified institutional action as foundational to addressing this — all three institutional recommendations achieved full consensus as both effective and feasible, the only stakeholder group where this was the case. The Only Good Antibodies community has produced recommended policy text designed to fit within existing frameworks aligned with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity and the UKRIO Code of Practice. It does not propose new review processes. It sets expectations that can be met through existing training and freely available tools — in the same way that institutions already set expectations around statistical rigour, data management, and the responsible use of AI. There are three blocks of text, each mapped to a specific policy context: • A clause for research integrity policies (UKRIO Section 3.3 or 3.11) • A clause for research training frameworks (UKRIO Section 3.2) • A clause for doctoral programme handbooks All three are short, adaptable, and available as ready-to-adopt text at onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/roadmap/institutions. There is also a significant 3Rs dimension — the policy encourages recombinant antibodies over animal-derived polyclonals, aligned with the EURL ECVAM recommendation, the NC3Rs strategy, and the UK government's Replacing Animals in Science strategy. Would it be worth a short meeting to discuss whether this might be incorporated at the next review point? Best wishes, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ROLE / DEPARTMENT / INSTITUTION]

[Dear TITLE NAME,] I'm writing to raise an opportunity to strengthen research quality across the School with negligible effort or cost: free antibody validation training, developed from an MRC-funded Delphi consensus study and aligned with emerging funder and publisher requirements. The problem is significant. Over half of commercial antibodies fail independent testing. Researchers select antibodies largely on lab tradition and supplier reputation rather than evidence, and the published literature shows that validation evidence is presented in only 15.8% of studies using poorly performing antibodies. The cost is financial, ethical (in wasted animal and human samples), and reputational. Three complementary resources are freely available from the Only Good Antibodies community: 1. OGA Academy — four free self-paced e-learning modules covering antibody selection and validation. Could be added to our induction or PGR training requirements at zero cost. 2. Antibody Champions workshops — a 90-minute hands-on session where researchers bring their own antibody selection problems. We could nominate a local Champion, resource existing staff to deliver, or request a visiting Champion from the UK network. 3. Recommended policy text — ready-to-adopt wording for research integrity policies, training frameworks, and doctoral handbooks. Designed to fit within existing structures without new review processes. All three are aligned with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, the UKRIO Code of Practice, and the UK government's Replacing Animals in Science strategy. The workshop and policy elements have a direct 3Rs benefit through reduced sample waste. Would you be open to a short meeting to discuss how any of this might be adopted locally? More information: onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/roadmap/institutions Best wishes, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ROLE / DEPARTMENT / INSTITUTION]

[Dear NAME,] Just a brief follow-up on my earlier email — I appreciate how busy things are and wanted to make sure it hadn't been buried. The lowest-effort version of what I suggested would be to add a requirement that any researcher using antibody-based methods completes the free OGA Academy e-learning (onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/academy). That alone would be a meaningful step and requires no local resource. Happy to arrange a brief conversation whenever it suits, or to send more detail in writing if that's easier. Best wishes, [YOUR NAME]