A companion to the preclinical common data elements for pharmacologic studies in animal models of seizures and epilepsy. A Report of the TASK 3 Pharmacology Working Group of the ILAE / AES Joint Translational Task Force

Preclinical pharmacology studies in animal models of seizures and epilepsy have provided a platform to identify more than 20 antiseizure drugs in recent decades. To minimize variability in lab-to-lab studies and to harmonize approaches to data collection and reporting methodology in pharmacologic evaluations of the next generation of therapies, we present common data elements (CDEs), case report forms (CRFs), and this companion manuscript to help with the implementation of methods for studies in established preclinical seizure and epilepsy models in adult rodents. The development of and advocacy for CDEs in preclinical research has been encouraged previously by both clinical and preclinical groups. It is anticipated that adoption and implementation of these CDEs in preclinical studies may help standardize approaches to minimize variability and increase the reproducibility of preclinical studies. Moreover, they may provide a methodologic framework for pharmacology studies in atypical animal models or models in development, which may ultimately promote novel therapy development. In the present document, we refer selectively to animal models that have a long history of preclinical use, and in some cases, are clinically validated.