Journal & NIH Funding Guidelines

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Failure  to monitor cell lines for cross-contamination or misidentification, a  problem that has persisted for cancer cell lines for decades, may result  in compromised data and ultimately irreproducible results.  Many  journals and now funding agencies, including the National Institutes of  Health (NIH) have guidelines set in place for the authentication of cell  lines used in research studies.

In June 2015, the NIH released Notice Number: NOT-OD-15-103 "Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency" to notify researchers of the revised application instructions for funding of grants submitted starting January 25, 2016.  

"All  research builds upon prior research, which may include observations,  preliminary data, or published literature.  ...NIH has always strived to  fund projects that are based on a strong foundation."
-NOT-OD-15-103

The notice goes on to state, "NIH expects that key biological and/or chemical resources will be regularly authenticated to ensure their identity and validity for use in the proposed studies."  The key biological resources list includes cell lines.​

For More information:  

http://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm 

Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources in NIH Grant Applications - by Dr. Michael Lauer, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research​​

 *For a full description of guidelines, see instructions to authors for all journals 

 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Publications

• Cancer Discovery
• Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention
• Cancer Immunology Research
• Cancer Prevention Research
• Cancer Research
• Clinical Cancer Research
• Molecular Cancer Research
• Molecular Cancer Therapeutics​​

Excerpt from Guidelines:  "If  cell lines were used in the research, a statement addressing the  following points must be included in the Materials and Methods section  of the manuscript:

1. From where and when the cells were obtained
2. Whether the cell lines have been tested and authenticated
3. The method by which the cells were tested
4. How and when the cells were last tested"

Bentham Science Publications

• Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
• Current Biotechnology
• Current Cancer Drug Targets
• Current Cancer Therapy Reviews
• Current Medicinal Chemistry
• Current Molecular Medicine
• Current Molecular Pharmacology
• Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine
• Current Radiopharmaceuticals
• Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy
• Current Traditional Medicine
• Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
• Letters in Drug Design & Discovery
• MicroRNA
• Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
• Protein & Peptide Letters

Excerpt from Guidelines: "Authors  are therefore required to provide authentication of the origin and  identity of the cells by performing cell profiling..."

BioMed Central Journals - includes but is not limited to:

• Biological Research
• BMC Biochemistry
• BMC Biotechnology
• BMC Cancer
• BMC Cell Biology
• BMC Dermatology
• BMC Developmental Biology
• BMC Gastroenterology
• BMC Genetics
• BMC Molecular Biology
• BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
• BMC Women’s Health
• Breast Cancer Research
• Cancer & Metabolism
• Cancer Cell International
• Experimental Hematology & Oncology
• Gynecologic Oncology Research and Practice
• Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
• Journal of Hematology & Oncology
• Journal of Ovarian Research
• Molecular Cancer
• Radiation Oncology
• Stem Cell Research & Therapy
• Thyroid Research

Excerpt from Guidelines:  “If human cell lines are used, authors are strongly encouraged to include the following information in their manuscript:

• the source of the cell line, including when and from where it was obtained;
• whether the cell line has recently been authenticated and by what method;
• whether the cell line has recently been tested for mycoplasma contamination.”

BioTechniques

Excerpt from Guidelines:  "Authors  are encouraged to authenticate all cell lines used in their research  efforts.  BioTechniques specifically requires authors to check any cell  lines used in their experiments against the current database of  misidentified cell lines curated by the International Cell Line  Authentication Committee (ICLAC)..."

Cancer (Journal of the American Cancer Society)

Excerpt from Guidelines:  "Manuscripts  based on research using cell lines must include a statement addressing  the following points in the Methods section of the manuscript:

1. Where the cells were obtained from
2. Whether the cell lines have been tested and authenticated
3. The method by which the cells were tested"

Carcinogenesis

Excerpt from Guidelines: "Carcinogenesis requires authors to report on the authentication of all cell lines reported in their research."

Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics

Excerpt from Guidelines: "Authentication  of Cell Lines - Verification of the identity of cell lines must be  included in Materials and Methods section of Research manuscripts and  the methodology employed referenced in the Bibliography."

Cell Biology International

Excerpt from Guidelines: “Authors  must ensure that any cell lines used (1) are certified as being the  designated type, (2) have been checked to ensure they are free of  contamination, and (3) have been used from young stock..."

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

​Excerpt from Guidelines: “Authors  are encouraged to take a two-step approach to the problem. First, use  existing resources to identify contaminated cell lines. ...Second, the  cell line must be proven authentic, even if cross contamination has not  been reported."

Endocrine Society Publications

• Endocrine Reviews
• Endocrinology
• Molecular Endocrinology
• Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

​​Excerpt from Guidelines:  "Endocrine  Society editorial policy will require that all cell lines used and  described in submitted manuscripts be authenticated."

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal

​​Excerpt from Guidelines:  "Authors must state:

1. Whether you have tested and authenticated the cell lines utilized in the research
2. List the method by which the cells were tested
3. List when the cells were last tested and where, or
4. State when the cells were obtained from a cell bank"

International Journal of Cancer​

​​Excerpt from Guidelines:  "...studies  dealing with established human (tumor) cell lines must provide  authentication of the origin and identity of the cells. This is best  achieved by DNA (STR) profiling..."

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (IOVS)

​​Excerpt from Guidelines:"In  light of recent events, we strongly suggest that STR analysis be used  to validate the authenticity of cell lines used in papers submitted to  IOVS."

Journal of Hepatology
Excerpt from Guidelines:  "In  the ‘Materials and methods’ section, the source of cells utilized  (catalog number if obtained from vendor or cell bank, species, sex,  strain, race, age of donor, whether primary or established) should be  clearly indicated. The methods section should state if cell line  authentication has been carried out and by what method (e.g., STR  profiling) and when authentication testing was last performed for that  cell line. Authors should be able to provide the test results upon  request. Mycoplasma contamination testing status must also be reported."

Journal of Molecular Biology

Excerpt from Guidelines:  “In  keeping with NIH guidelines, the Journal considers it to be good  practice for cultured cell lines to be authenticated. A description of  the methods used to authenticate cells should be included in the  Materials and Methods section. Authors are expected to check that cell  lines used in their experiments are free from mycoplasma infections.”

Journal of the National Cancer Institute​

Excerpt from Guidelines:"Authors  of provisionally accepted manuscripts that use cell lines should state  the methods used to authenticate any cell lines used in their studies  and should give the date of the last authentication."

Molecular Vision

Excerpt from Guidelines:"Manuscripts  reporting experiments in which immortalized cell lines are used must  include data and documentation that demonstrate that the actual cells  used in the experiments reported in the manuscript exhibit the correct  phenotype and genotype. Authors are must read the article written by the  editors on the authentication of cell lines (The Editors. On authentication of cell lines. Mol. Vis. 2013; 19:1848-1851)."

Nature Publishing Group (NPG), includes but not limited to:

• Nature
• Nature Cell Biology
• Nature Methods​​

Excerpt from Guidelines:  Nature has a “Reporting Checklist for Life Sciences Articles” that includes the following under the topic of “Reagents”:   "7.  Cell line identity:   a. Are any cell lines used in this paper listed  in the database of commonly misidentified cell lines maintained by ICLAC  (also available in NCBI Biosample)?   b. If yes, include in the Methods  section a scientific justification of their use – indicate here on  which page (or section and paragraph) the justification can be found.    c. For each cell line, include in the Methods section a statement that  specifies:
- the source of the cell lines
- have the cell lines been authenticated? If so, by which method?
-  have the cell lines been tested for mycoplasma contamination? In this  checklist, indicate on which page (or section and paragraph) the  information can be found."

Neuro-Oncology

Excerpt from Guidelines: "Methods and Materials:  If cell lines are used, include a statement that addresses:

• Where and when the cell line was obtained,
• Whether the cell lines have previously been tested and authenticated (e.g., by a cell bank)
• The method by which the cell lines were tested, and
• How and when the cell lines were tested"

Society for Endocrinology Publications

• Endocrine-Related Cancer​
• Journal of Endocrinology​
• Journal of Molecular Endocrinology​

Excerpt from Guidelines: “We require that all cell lines are authenticated for correct origin."

​​PLOS ONE

​Excerpt from Guidelines: "Authors should check established cell lines using the ICLAC Database of Cross-contaminated or Misidentified Cell Lines to  confirm they are not misidentified or contaminated. Cell line  authentication is recommended - e.g. by karyotyping, isozyme analysis,  or short tandem repeats (STR) analysis - and may be required during peer  review or after publication."

The Open Breast Cancer Journal (Bentham Open)

Excerpt from Guidelines: "Bentham OPEN recommends that all cell lines be authenticated prior to  submitting a paper for review. ...Authentication is required when a new  line is established or acquired, before freezing a cell line, if the  performance of the line is not consistent or results are unexpected, if  using more than one cell line, and before publication of the study."