Course Laboratory Animal Science

Laboratory Animal Science

Reg.no: B100/38

is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, fall 2020.

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).

Aim: To give the participants understanding of the basic principles laboratory animal science. The course is obligatory for persons, who wish to participate in research using laboratory animals. The course is a function A/D course according to the EU Directive 2010/63 /EU Article 23.2 (previously designated category B by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations). The course gives an introduction to practical and theoretical handling, housing and using laboratory animals and how to replace, refine and reduce the use of live animals for research (3R).

Having completed the course it is expected, that the student have the following:

Knowledge The student knows - the legal basis for the acquisition, husbandry, care and use of animals for scientific purposes. - Basic principles on ethics in relation to human-animal relationship, intrinsic value of life and - arguments for and against the use of animals for scientific purposes. - Basic and appropriate species-specific biology in relation to anatomy, physiological features, breeding, genetics and genetic alteration. - Basic knowledge on animal behaviour, husbandry and enrichment. - Species-specific methods of handling and procedures - animal health management and hygiene (mice, rats, swine). - Recognition of species-specific distress, pain and suffering of most common laboratory species (mice, rats, swine). - Basic principles of animal anaesthesia, pain relieving methods and killing (mice, rats, swine). - The fundamentals of the use of humane end-points in experimental setups. - The principles of requirement of replacement, reduction and refinement in the design and performance of animal experiments. - The importance and principles of planning, designing of procedures and projects, as well as evaluating studies using live animals.

Skills The student is able to - obtain practical information on how to handle and perform simple procedures in the most common laboratory animals - explain the basic principles on when and how to use animals for research - evaluate what principles of procedures can be used on their future experiments - reflect over the ethical basis for the use of animals for research

Competencies The student is able to perform basic handling of common rodents when used for research - perform basic animal experiments

Learning outcome: The participants should obtain basic knowledge about the Laboratory animal science, which will make it possible for them to participate in research contributing to the humane use of laboratory animals ensuring high standards of animal welfare and quality in the performing, evaluating and reporting of laboratory animal experiments.

• Advanced insight into Danish and International legislation concerning animals used for scientific purposes, the ethical aspects working with laboratory animals as well as the principles of the 3 Rs.
• Basic insight into the biology of laboratory animal, including normal/abnormal behaviour, housing, breeding, welfare and feeding.
• Basic insight into the use and limitation of animal models in biomedical research, occupational health and safety when working with laboratory animals.
• Insight into strategies for planning and analyses of experimental animal studies, including the importance of standardisation of environmental, microbiological factors and use of humane endpoints.
• Practical experience with handling, anaesthesia, analgesia, euthanasia and surgical procedures in the most common used laboratory animals.

Contents: The course will provide didactic and hands on training in the use of laboratory animals. The lectures will include legislation, ethics, handling and husbandry of common laboratory animals, diseases and disease prevention, basic concept of laboratory animal breeding and genetics, transgenic and genetic modified laboratory animals, anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia of laboratory animals, basic surgical techniques, behavioural aspects of handling and husbandry of laboratory animals, alternatives including refinement, reduction and replacement of animal use in research. Research planning, animal models and humane endpoints as well as allergy to laboratory animals and other occupational hazards working with laboratory animals will be covered.

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

Language: English

ECTS: 3,8

Head of Course: Thea Thougaard Johansen

Instructors: External and internal teachers.

Number of Participants: 24

Dates and Times: 5 – 9 October 2020 from 8:15 – 16:00 every day.

Place: The Victor Albeck Building, Vennelyst Blvd. 4, 8000 Aarhus

5/10: Loftsalen (1266-316)

6/10: AUD1 (1231-214)

7/10: Kollokvierum Øst (1268-218) - exercises in the afternoon

8/10: Loftsalen (1266-316)

9/10: Kollokvierum Øst (1268-218)

Evaluation: Multiple Choice examination. The questions in the multiple choice test are based on the lectures, lecture notes, practical exercises and chapter 2, 4-11, chapter 14 page 312-321 in the teaching book "SARAH WOLFENSOHN, MAGGIE LLOYD: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management & Welfare, Fourth Edition, Blackwell Science, Paper-back ISBN 978-0-4706-5549-8 2013".Participation in the course is without cost for:

Course fee: DKK 9000

Participation in the course is without cost for:

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

Application deadline: 7 September 2020

Application: https://service.health.au.dk/modules/Course/mypage/coursecalendar.

Course dates:

• 05 October 2020