title: [Guidelines on the appropriate use of animal models for developing therapies in multiple sclerosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The advance in the achievement of effective therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), the definition of appropriate therapeutic windows and to establish better diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers have become a challenging task for both researchers and clinicians. Some pitfalls in clinical trials might be related to lack of adequacy of the preclinical studies in MS experimental animal models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To standardize the methodological protocols of experimental models by developing a set of guidelines for preclinical studies by groups of experts from REEM (Spanish Network for MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A guide with recommendations for the application of MS models including a detailed assessment of appropriate experimental models taking into account the objective of the study that has been presented. Standards and quality criteria necessary in a preclinical study have been included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardized animal models of MS are essential to increase the success of the preclinical findings in order to transfer them to the clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espejo
authors.forename: Leyre
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mestre
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suardiaz
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Óscar
authors.initials: Ó
authors.lastname: Fernández-Fernández
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montalban
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villoslada
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guaza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design