86 Chapter 4 Best practices for (description of) the methods applied: Different in vitro models require different methods for production. The development of innovative and novel techniques is encouraged by the interdisciplinary nature of lung disease research, which is supported by the fields of cell biology, pulmonology, biomaterials, and bioengineering. As a result, various research groups are developing different methods for generating in vitro models dependent upon available resources and applicability to the research questions explored. This however results in diversity and hence variability in the outcomes obtained from in vitro models, making comparison between different studies challenging. As we attempt to build on existing knowledge, the lack of unified approaches renders our efforts more complex. Agreeing on minimum parameters to define the steps required to create each version of these models, preparing such guidelines for the community and encouraging clear communication are important starting points for tackling this conundrum [136]. Best practices for measuring and reporting end points: Different research questions require the generation and measuring of different outcomes. Characterisation of end points can be performed with different methodologies which can provide information that speaks towards similar end points. While the separate measurements will ideally provide data that can be informative for comparisons, differences in the sample processing and individual experimental setups are likely to influence the outcomes, generating difficulties when it comes to making subsequent comparisons between different studies. Defining certain standards or establishing recommendations for reporting of specific details where variances may occur that influence the outcomes (for example number of cells used, exact media composition, timing for all culture steps of experiment) would greatly benefit the field. Such an approach will enable the field to move forward as it would bring different studies performed at different locations and/or times to a comparable basis. Establishing best practices for the materials used, methods applied for generation of in vitro models, and the end points tested will be a difficult task. However, this newly advancing topic would strongly benefit from starting the discussions regarding the best practices for above-mentioned criteria. Enforcing “gold standards” to be met with each model system prematurely would potentially result in missing development opportunities represented by the many innovative pioneering studies. It must also be noted that these standards might vary based on the research question. One way to start such discussions is creating awareness of the need to follow best practices by providing detailed information for other influential elements of academic research. Engaging editors and journals regarding the development of good practices for the field would be an ideal starting point. The development of
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