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Evidence synthesis for tackling research waste

There is an immediate need for a change in research workflows so that pre-existing knowledge is better used in designing new research. A formal assessment of the accumulated knowledge prior to research approval would reduce the waste of already limited resources caused by asking low priority questions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Fraser and J. Eales for their insightful comments on our commentary which has greatly improved the final version.

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Correspondence to Matthew J. Grainger.

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Grainger, M.J., Bolam, F.C., Stewart, G.B. et al. Evidence synthesis for tackling research waste. Nat Ecol Evol 4, 495–497 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1141-6

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