Course Advanced course in Laboratory Animal Science – Porcine models in biomedical research

The course C116/22 Advanced course in Laboratory Animal Science – Porcine models in biomedical research is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, 2025.

Criteria for participation:  University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or Master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).

Requirements for participation: Basic course or equivalent to basic course in laboratory animal science

Aim: To give the participants knowledge on best practice procedures when using the pig as an animal model in preclinical science. The students will learn more about ethics and the 3Rs. The course will furthermore draw attention to the importance of anaesthesia and analgesia and the participants will gain hands-on experience performing general surgical procedures. There will be lectures on regulatory requirements and application procedures.  

Learning outcomes: The course will, in unison with the basic course in laboratory animal science, qualify participants to apply for and obtain licence to perform animal experiments in Denmark.

Workload: The full workload of the course is expected to be 64 hours. E-learning modules should be completed before coursestart

Content: Theory and hands-on training consisting of lectures, practical exercises, online learning, assignment, exam.

Knowledge: After completion, we expect the participant to have gained knowledge within:

• Regulatory requirements and application requirements
• Basic concepts of anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia of pigs.
• Basic concepts of surgical instrumentation of pigs and surgical procedures
• The principles of planning and designing procedures and projects, as well as evaluating studies using live animals, specifically pigs
• Knowledge on the 3Rs

Skills: After completion, the student will be able to/ have knowledge of:

• Comply with regulatory requirements and make an application to perform animal experiments
• The basic concepts of surgical instrumentation of pigs
• The principles of planning and designing procedures and projects, as well important aspects in evaluating translational value of studies using live animal
• The theoretical use of replacement, reduction and refinement in the design and performance of animal experiments to the benefit of research achievements
• Follow the ARRIVE guidelines

Competencies: After completion, the student will be able to:

• Apply to regulatory requirements and apply for a licence to perform animal experiments
• Perform basic anaesthesia and analgesia procedures in pigs
• Perform basic surgical instrumentation of pigs
• Perform translational research with consideration to both quality and ethics

Instructors: several instructors.

Venue: The surgical research facility, Dept of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200 Aarhus N

Participation in the course is without cost for:

• PhD students, Health Research Year students from Aarhus University
• PhD students enrolled at partner universities of the Nordoc collaboration
• PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses

Course dates:

• 17 February 2025 08:00 - 16:00
• 18 February 2025 08:00 - 16:00
• 19 February 2025 08:00 - 16:00
• 20 February 2025 08:00 - 16:00
• 21 February 2025 08:00 - 16:00