Principles in Animal Experimentation
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
The course is comprising of modules, according to the framework developed by the European commission, which can be found here: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
Compound evaluation, grading scale Passed / Not Passed
- Compulsory participation, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Recognition of pain, suffering and destress in laboratory animals-emphasis on aquaic species, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Minimally invasive procedures in aquatic species, with or withour use of anaesthesia, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- Practical examination, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- Paper, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC National&International legislation on the use of animals in research, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Humane methods of killing experimental animals, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Design of procedures and projects, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Basic biology of aquatic species, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
- MC Animal care and health management of aquatic species, grading scale Passed / Not Passed.
