About SciRAP

Science in Risk Assessment and Policy (SciRAP) is a research initiative that aims to provide tools for structured and transparent evaluation of toxicity, ecotoxicity and epidemiological data, and to bridge the gap between academic research and chemicals regulation and policy.

SciRAP is a collaboration between researchers at the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, and the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet. In the SciRAP initiative, we have developed tools for evaluating the reliability and relevance of toxicity and ecotoxicity data for use in various regulatory and scientific assessments. An important aim of SciRAP has been to provide resources to facilitate and increase the use of data from non-standard toxicity and ecotoxicity studies in the regulatory assessment of chemicals. Therefore, SciRAP also includes reporting checklists to assist researchers in the reporting of study design, conduct and results.

The SciRAP tools for data evaluation consist of science-based criteria

The SciRAP tools have been developed as lists of predefined criteria to help the assessor evaluate the reliability of a study, as well as its relevance to the assessment question, in a structured, transparent and science-based manner. The SciRAP criteria are based on the requirements and recommendations of standardised and internationally validated test guidelines, for example from the OECD, and existing tools. The SciRAP tools are available as Excel files, which can be downloaded here, together with a user guide.

SciRAP tools are currently available for

The SciRAP reporting checklists for researchers

The SciRAP reporting checklists have been developed to help researchers design, perform, analyse and report toxicity and ecotoxicity studies in a structured, transparent and science-based manner. Adequate reporting of study details is critical to meet the reliability criteria for regulatory hazard and risk assessment of chemicals, but also more general to ensure the quality of research.

Who are the SciRAP tools intended for?

The SciRAP criteria for evaluation of data reliability and relevance are intended for regulators and risk assessors, as well as researchers conducting evidence evaluation and weight of evidence assessment in different contexts. The SciRAP reporting checklists are intended as a tool for researchers to support comprehensive reporting of the design, methods, performance, and results of their studies. The SciRAP criteria can also be used as a template in the peer-review process of articles submitted to scientific journals to facilitate the review process and increase the reliability and reproducibility of publications.