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

Title: Advanced course in Laboratory Animal Science – Porcine models in biomedical research

Reg.no: C116/17

is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, spring 2021

Criteria for participation: Must have passed basic laboratory animal science course (EU category A/D course). Individuals participating should normally hold an academic degree or equivalent in an appropriate scientific discipline.”

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.

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

Contents: The course will provide theory and hands-on training in the basic use of swine as biomedical research models. Lectures will be given within the field of legislation, how to apply for permission to perform animal experiments. Furthermore, lectures will focus on anaesthesia and analgesia of the pig. There will be days of practical exercises where venipuncture, injection, intubation, anaesthesia and analgesia, surgical procedures such as IV access, suturing, thoracic and abdominal surgical procedures, and transportation procedures to scanning-facilities will be trained.

Recommended knowledge for participation: A 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) as well as a basic course in Laboratory Animal Science.

Language: In English if non- Danish speakers are present, otherwise in Danish

Instructors: TBA

Dates and times: COURSE POSTPONED 

Place: Aaarhus University Hospital, G111-119, Palle Juul Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200 Aarhus N

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 collaboration
• PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses

Course dates:

• 29 March 2021
• 30 March 2021
• 31 March 2021
• 01 April 2021
• 02 April 2021