Love Methods Week

Schedule of Events

• Monday, 24 February 2025

  Using the PRO-MaP Guidelines to Improve the Clarity of Methods and Protocols in the Life Sciences (13:00 - 13:30 CET / 7:00 - 7:30am US EST)

  The PRO-MaP guidelines outline actions that researchers, research institutions and departments, publishers, editors and funders can take to improve the reporting of methods and reusable step by step protocols in the life sciences. In this webinar, we’ll briefly review some important recommendations for researchers, research institutions and departments.
  Instructor: Tracey Weissgerber, team leader EXCELScIOR project ERA Chair, University of Coimbra, Portugal
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Write my Protocol Workshop (14:00 - 15:30 CET / 8 - 9:30am US EST)

  Work on drafting a reusable step-by-step protocol or improving an existing protocol, and depositing your protocol on the protocol repository protocols.io. We’ll start with a 12-minute exercise to help you structure your protocol and capture important information. Then you’ll have time to work and get feedback from the instructors and other participants.
  Preparation: Sign up for a free account on protocols.io before the workshop
  What to bring: A procedure that you’d like to draft a reusable step-by-step protocol for, or a draft protocol (if you already have one)
  Instructors: Tracey Weissgerber, team leader EXCELScIOR project ERA Chair, University of Coimbra, Portugal and René Bernard, NeuroCure and QUEST Center for Responsible Research
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Publishing your Method at Springer Nature  (16:00 - 17:00 CET / 10 - 11am US EST)

  Every year exciting laboratory and computational methods are developed to answer interesting scientific questions. You will write a research paper to report your process and findings, but when is a good time to write a methods paper? A tutorial? A protocol? A primer? Meet a panel of editors from Springer Nature who can tell you more about these article types and answer your questions.
  Instructors: Ivanka Kamenova and Bronwen Dekker (Nature Protocols), Chiara Cilibrasi (BMC Methods), Allison Doerr (Nature Methods), Joseph Wilson (Nature Reviews Methods Primers)
  Registration: see here
   

  Multilaboratory Magic: Designing and Conducting Collaborative Preclinical Studies (17:00 - 18:30 CET / 11:00am - 12:30pm US EST)

  This workshop will provide an introductory overview of preclinical multilaboratory studies - where several labs plan and conduct an experiment using a shared protocol. Participants will learn about the benefits of multilaboratory approaches, including: shared expertise and resources, robust standardization, enhanced generalizability of findings, and acceleration of translational research progress. The session will include examples from recent multilaboratory studies conducted by our group and others. A dedicated question-and-answer session will provide participants with the opportunity to engage directly and discuss their specific interests as they consider conducting their own multilaboratory studies.
  Instructor: Forough Jahandideh and Manoj Lalu, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Reducing Experimental Bias in Preclinical Studies (18:30 - 19:30 CET / 12:30pm - 1:30pm US EST)

  Bias in study design often negatively affects the internal validity. In this workshop, you learn methods on how to reduce bias in your design and how to report your bias reduction measures so that they are transparent and reproducible.
  What to bring: a preclinical study design draft (if you already have one)
  Instructor: René Bernard, NeuroCure and QUEST Center for Responsible Research
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Best Practices for Sharing Protocols to Maximize Credit and Reuse (20:00 - 21:00 CET / 2 - 3pm US EST)

  Rigorous researchers and open science champions often share detailed protocols in supplementary information or on their lab websites. While such sharing is helpful and to be lauded, it is not optimal for credit to the authors, discoverability, reproducibility, and reuse of the methods. 
  In this presentation, we will discuss the best practices for open science sharing of research protocols. The session will also cover the easy ways to get existing protocols into protocols.io for public sharing.
  Instructor: Lenny Teytelman, protocols.io
  Registration: see here

• Tuesday, 25 February 2025

  How to Use Methodological Shortcut Citations Responsibly (14:00 - 14:30 CET / 8 - 8:30am US EST)

  Researchers use a methodological shortcut citation when they cite another resource that used the method, instead of fully describing the method. Shortcut citations can be very informative when they are used responsibly. However, they can also cause problems for others who want to use the method if the cited resource doesn’t provide adequate detail, is inaccessible, or doesn’t describe the procedures used by the citing authors. In this webinar, we’ll discuss how to use methodological shortcut citation responsibly. You can find more information here.
  Instructors: Tracey Weissgerber, team leader EXCELScIOR project ERA Chair, University of Coimbra, Portugal and René Bernard, NeuroCure and QUEST Center for Responsible Research
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Reproducibility for Everyone Workshop (15:00 - 16:30 CET / 9 - 10:30am US EST)

  Have you struggled with adopting a published method to the settings in your own lab? Or, even worse, have you struggled to get a method to work that was established by another lab member in your group? 
  These are, unfortunately, very common struggles that researchers face, regardless of where or what they study. Very often, this lack of reproducibility can be traced back to a lack of accessible and/or transparent research methods and research reagents. 
  The good news is that these heartaches can be avoided. How? Join us for an interactive workshop that will reflect on factors that affect the reproducibility of your experiments, show you practical tools and resources to improve the scientific rigor of your work and practice writing a transparent protocol that can be adopted by others.
  What to bring: Pen and paper
  Instructor: Nafisa Jadavji, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
  Registration: see here
   

  Creating Rigorous Experiments - an Interactive Demonstration of the Experimental Design Assistant (17:00 - 19:00 CET / 11am - 1pm US EST)

  The Experimental Design Assistant (EDA; RRID:SCR_017019) is an online tool to help you design in vivo experiments. In this workshop you will learn about the features of the EDA and have time to design your own experiment with live guidance available from Dr Esther Pearl (NC3Rs Programme Manager for Experimental Design). By the end of the session you will be able to use the EDA to:

  • Receive tailored feedback on your experimental plans
  • Identify statistical analysis methods relevant to your design
  • Determine an appropriate sample size
  • Create a randomisation sequence
  • Communicate your plans clearly with others, including as part of pre-registering your study plans

  Preparation:  Sign up for a free EDA account here before the workshop.
  Instructor: Esther Pearl, NC3Rs Programme Manager for Experimental Design
  Registration: see here 
   

  From Lab Notes to Lab Protocols (18:00 - 20:00 CET / 12 - 2pm US EST)

  Writing and sharing clearly described research protocols is essential for research reproducibility. Robust and shareable step-by-step protocols are developed over time, often starting with informal records captured in lab notebooks. This workshop will address maintaining a lab notebook and the key elements of compiling a reproducible protocol. Attendees will carry out an exercise to identify components that they would need to transform lab notes into a well-documented protocol. We will also discuss opportunities to post or submit a protocol at Bio-protocol or elsewhere. This session is especially suitable for students and anyone interested in sharing or publishing life sciences protocols.
  What to bring: Your laptop, your lab notebook, and information about a protocol that you have used more than once
  Instructors: Caroline Shamu (Harvard Medical School), Vivian Siegel (MIT), Marisa Rosa (Bio-protocol)
  Registration: see here

• Wednesday, 26 February 2025

  Use Reporting Guidelines (13:30 - 14:30 CET / 7:30 - 8:30am US EST)

  Use reporting guidelines when writing and reporting your research to make your methods more transparent and reproducible. During this interactive workshop, you’ll find out which reporting guideline applies to your research, and use that reporting guideline to improve your methods section or study plan.
  Preparation: This will be a flipped workshop. Please watch this video prior to attending the
  workshop, so that we can spend time during the workshop applying what you’ve learned.
  What to bring: Your methods section or study plan
  Instructors: Tracey Weissgerber, team leader EXCELScIOR project ERA Chair, University of Coimbra, Portugal and René Bernard, NeuroCure and QUEST Center for Responsible Research
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Quarto for Reproducible Manuscripts (14:30 - 16:30 CET / 8:30 - 11:30am US EST)

  Combining narrative and code into the same document makes computational methods reproducible and ensures that any reader can arrive from the original data and code to the final results published in the manuscript. Using the technical publishing system Quarto, you will learn how to incorporate your computational methods, tables and figures into your manuscript. You can either work on a manuscript of your own, using your own code, figures and tables, or you can work on an example created for this workshop. 
  Requirement: Basic R and/or Python programming knowledge is expected.
  Instructors: Vladislav Nachev, QUEST Center for Responsible Research 
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  Using Research Resource Identifiers (16:30 - 18:00 CET / 10:30am - 12:00pm US EST)

  Does your research use antibodies, cell lines, plasmids, model organisms (e.g., mice, rats, flies), or software and tools? Research resource identifiers (RRIDs) are unique persistent identifiers that allow you to specify exactly what materials you used. RRIDs stay the same, even if catalog numbers or supplier websites change, the supplier is bought out by another company, or the product is discontinued. In this interactive workshop, you’ll look up RRIDs for materials that you use in your research and add them to your methods section or materials ordering list.
  What to bring: Your methods section, or a list of materials used in your own research or by members of your research group.
  Pro tip:  Adding RRIDs to your paper is easy but tedious. We'll use an automated tool called SciScore to make things easy.
  Facilitator: Anita Bandrowski, CEO SciCrunch
  Registration: see infobox for details

  
  Ask the Experts - Journal Editors and Published Authors - About Peer-Reviewing your Protocols (18:00 - 19:15 CET / 12 - 1:15pm US EST)

  Join editors and authors from Nature Protocols, BMC Methods and PLOS ONE to discuss for 1:15 hour the highs and lows, dos and dont's and rewards and challenges of peer-reviewing protocols. 
  Panelists: Bronwen Dekker (Senior Editor, Nature Protocols), Chiara Cilibrasi (Senior Editor, BMC Methods), Jianhong Zhou (Senior Editor, PLOS ONE), Steven Henikoff (Professor, Fred Hutch Cancer Center), Elzbieta Iwaszkiewicz-Eggebrecht (Postdoctoral Researcher, Swedish Natural History Museum)
  Moderator: Gabriel Gasque (Head of Outreach, protocols.io)
  Registration: see here

  
  Preregistration Essentials: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Do It (20:00 - 21:00 CET / 2 - 3pm US EST)

  Join COS’s webinar on preregistration during Love Methods Week. Preregistration is a key tool for enhancing transparency and reproducibility in research - but how does it actually work? In this webinar, we’ll break down the essentials of preregistration, explore its benefits, and walk through the process step by step. Whether you’re new to preregistration or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide clarity on what preregistration is, why it matters, and how to implement it effectively in your research. Join COS for an informative discussion and a live Q&A to get your questions answered.
  Presenters: Mark Call, Noah Haber, David Mellor and Crystal Steltenpohl (Center for Open Science)
  Registration: see here

• Thursday, 27 February 2025

  How to Peer Review the Methods Section of Articles in Biomedical Journals & Lessons for Authors (13:00 - 16:00 CET / 7 - 10am US EST)

  This condensed workshop is a spin-off of the semester-long "Peerspectives" training program and is specifically tailored to early-career researchers (postdocs and PhD students). Emphasizing the importance of thoughtful review of methods, we will provide interactive lectures and group exercises designed to get you thinking like a peer reviewer and editor. You will not only learn how to give effective feedback on methods sections you review but also how to improve your own writing. We will share firsthand insights from editorial meetings at the BMJ and introduce you to tools you can use as a guide while drafting your own peer review reports.
  Instructors: Jessica Rohmann, QUEST Center for Responsible Research and Toivo Glatz, Institut für Public Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin
  Registration: see here
   

  Pre-Register My Study Workshop (17:00 - 18:00 CET / 11:00am - 12:00pm US EST)

  Preregistration is a crucial step in research methodology applicable across fields. We discuss the significance of preregistration for enhancing transparency, reducing bias, and fostering robust scientific practices. Bring your current or upcoming research questions, as we delve into hands-on activities to guide you through the process of preregistration, ensuring your studies are founded on transparent and well-defined methodologies.
  What to bring: A draft of your study protocol, if you have one
  Instructor: Olmo van den Akker, QUEST Center for Responsible Research
  Registration: see infobox for details
   

  How to Write an Excellent Protocol - an Editor's Perspective (16:00 - 17:00 CET / 10:00 - 11:00am US EST)

  A well-written step-by-step protocol can be an invaluable tool in implementing a new technique into your lab. In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to write a protocol with a procedure section that is detailed, yet easy to follow. We will also cover key elements to include such as discussion of the advantages and limitations of the method and how it compares with alternative techniques, as well as what results to expect from completing the protocol and how to troubleshoot potential problems. 
  Preparation: You are invited to send a draft procedure for discussion to protocols@nature.com
  Instructors: Springer Nature editors Ivanka Kamenova and Bronwen Dekker (Nature Protocols), Chiara Cilibrasi (BMC Methods)
  Registration: see here
   

• Friday, 28 February 2025

  Evidence Synthesis: Types, Reproducibility, and Best Practices (15:00 - 16:00 CET / 9:00 - 10:00am US EST)

  This presentation will highlight key differences between various types of evidence synthesis, including systematic reviews and scoping reviews. We will discuss the critical role of reproducibility in evidence synthesis and discuss common challenges that can compromise transparency in the methodological steps.  
  Instructors: Corinna Dressler, MSc, PhD (Head of Information Literacy Education/Systematic Reviews, Medical Library Charité); Meghan Forrest, MSc, BSN (Information Specialist, Medical Library Charité)
  Preparation: none 
  Registration: see infobox for details

   

  The most critical statistical pitfalls clinical and preclinical researchers should avoid (in French)
  Les pièges statistiques les plus critiques que les chercheurs cliniques et précliniques doivent éviter  (17:00 - 18:00 CET / 11am - 12pm US EST)

  The webinar is organized by the LORIER Reproducibility Working Group and will be held in French. Our invited speaker, André Gillibert, is a methodologist at Rouen University Hospital. He will discuss the most critical statistical pitfalls that researchers in clinical and preclinical research should avoid.
  Registration: see here
  Passcode (required): 526981