The course follows the guidelines suggested by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Association (FELASA),regarding the EU Functions A (carrying out procedures on animals), B (designing procedures and projects) and D (killing animals). Students can choose between two specializations: aquatic animals or pigs. The theoretical part covers all the necessary issues in relation to the use of aquatic species (mainly fish and decapods) and pigs in research and it is divided into general modules, which are common for both groups of animals and species-specific modules. The practical training contains species-specific modules related to the handling, care and manipulation of animals, with or without anaesthesia.

Requirement for admission is minimum 3 years education on university or college level in biomedicine or biology.

NOK 5000

Knowledge

• The student has specialized knowledge on various aspects of animal experimentation:
• The history of animal experimentation
• The national and international legislation on animal experimentation
• The ethics in animal experimentation
• The alternatives to animal experimentation
• The basic biology care of the specific species of laboratory animals (fish, decapods and pigs)
• Recognition of pain, suffering and distress in the specific species of laboratory animals
• Health hazards and safe practices in the care of the specific species of laboratory animals
• The performance of the main routine invasive experimental procedures, with or without anesthesia or analgesia
• The use of appropriate experimental design in different animal studies

Skills

The student:

• Can collect and critically analyze various sources of information within the field of animal experimentation and use them to develop their own research
• Can analyze existing theories and methods and use them to structure scientific hypotheses
• Can plan and carry out research studies, using animals, under limited supervision, following the ethical and legal rules

General competence

The student:

• Can apply knowlwdge and practical skills in animal research
• Can communicate research results to other scientists as well as the general public, using appropriate language and terminology
• Can contibbute to new thinking and innovation process in the field of animal experimentation

Elective: PhD Aquatic Biosciences

Face-to-face

The course is comprising of modules, according to the framework developed by the European commission, which can be found here:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/pdf/Endorsed_E-T.pdf

Lectures: 35 hours
Practical training: 21 hours 

Obligatory work: Critical review of a published study, in which animals were used, using the ARRIVE guidelines

THEORETICAL MODULES:

1) General modules

Module 1: National & International legislation on the use of animals in research,

Module 2: Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs (Level 1 + 2),

Module 3: Humane methods of killing experimental animals

Module 4: Design of procedures and projects (Level 1 + 2).

 2) Species-specific modules

 A: Aquatic animals:

Module 5A: Basic biology of aquatic species,

Module 6A: Animal care and health management of aquatic species,

Module 7A: Recognition of pain, suffering and distress in laboratory animals -emphasis on aquatic species, Module Module 8A: Minimally invasive procedures in aquatic species, with or without use of anaesthesia.

 B. Pigs:

Module 5B: Basic biology of large terrestrial animals - emphasis on pigs
Module 6B: Animal care and health management of pigs,

Module 7B: Recognition of pain, suffering and distress in laboratory animals -emphasis on pigs,

Module 8B: Minimally invasive procedures in pigs, with or without use of anaesthesia,

Module 9: Principles of surgery - mammals.

 

PRACTICAL MODULES

Module 10A: Basic biology of fish - minimally invasive procedures with and without anaesthesia

Module 10B: Minimally and surgical or prolonged invasive procedures in pigs under anaesthesia

The course is evaluated by students at the end of the course. 

Compound evaluation, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått

• Compulsory participation, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Recognition of pain, suffering and destress in laboratory animals-emphasis on aquaic species, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Minimally invasive procedures in aquatic species, with or withour use of anaesthesia, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• Practical examination, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• Paper, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC National&International legislation on the use of animals in research, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Humane methods of killing experimental animals, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Design of procedures and projects, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Basic biology of aquatic species, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.
• MC Animal care and health management of aquatic species, grading scale Bestått - Ikke bestått.

The reading list can be found in Leganto