COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this course is to train students to work with laboratory animals at a basic level. Upon completion of the course (by passing the exam), the student receives a certificate of qualification of a person conducting experiments on animals according to the Training Program for Persons Working with Experimental Animals and Animals for the Production of Biological Preparations (Appendix III of the Ordinance on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes, NN 37/13); with the assigned unique identification number OSP 191/001, under which it is registered with the Veterinary Administration.
In more detail, the aim is to familiarize students with the basic biological and breeding characteristics of individual experimental animal species that are most often used in biomedical scientific research, mainly mice, rats and zebrafish; how and why they are bred. Furthermore, we introduce students to various factors (external and internal) that can affect the status of the animal (before and during the experiment) and consequently the experimental data obtained. In addition, upon completion of this course, students will learn the basic principles of experimentation, selection and establishment of an experimental model. They will be presented with all the various specific and non-specific techniques required depending on the type and purpose of the research, methods and use of pain relief agents, techniques for monitoring the health of the animal before and during the experiment. To teach the student how to make a diagnosis and what it can tell us about our experiment. Also, students will adopt the basics of the ethical and moral approach to working with living models, and modern principles of research on laboratory animals, which are summarized in the rule of the three R's: reduce, refine, replace. The course also has a strong emphasis on research with alternative methods.
COURSE CONTENT:
LECTURES
1) Introduction to Laboratory animals: beginnings of research on experimental animals, ideal laboratory animal model, basics of keeping animals in the laboratory;
2) Animal maintenance in the laboratory: abiotic and biotic factors in housing laboratory animals;
3) Most common laboratory animals: An overview through the most common species of laboratory animals in scientific research;
4) Rodents: Fundamentals of biology and evolution of rodents as the most common group of laboratory animals;
5) Handling laboratory animals: Non-invasive methods of working with laboratory animals;
6) Techniques of administration of substances, anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia: Invasive methods of working with laboratory animals;
7) The necessity of using experimental animals: The importance of research on laboratory animals through examples;
8) Mouse as an experimental model: Strains of laboratory mice, strain characteristics and strain formation;
9) Laboratory rat: Laboratory rat strains, strain characteristics and strain formation;
10) Overview of existing experimental models;
11) Behaviour: Behavioural research and behaviour tests in scientific research on laboratory animal models;
12) Laboratory animal diseases: Basics of laboratory animal diseases, major diseases;
13) Animal health in experiments: Keeping animals healthy in laboratories, the impact of animal health on research results;
14) Ethics: Animal welfare, moral and ethical dilemmas when working with laboratory animals;
15) Legislation, regulations and competent services;
16) Safety in working with laboratory animals;
17) Animal welfare and experimental and human end of the experiment;
18) Good laboratory practice in working with animals;
19) Alternatives to animal use.
SEMINARS
1) Development of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for working with laboratory animals;
2) Planning and design of experiments with laboratory animals;
3) Animal health monitoring.
PRACTICAL COURSE
1) Laboratory mouse: presentation of work and work skills on a mouse animal model: maintenance, relocation, restraint, general non-invasive and invasive methods, administration techniques, anaesthesia, analgesia, euthanasia and dissection;
2) Laboratory rat: presentation of work and work skills on the rat animal model: maintenance, relocation, restraint, general non-invasive and invasive methods, substance administration techniques, anaesthesia, analgesia, euthanasia and dissection;
3) Zebra fish: presentation of work and work skills on the zebra fish model;
4) Behavioural research: Standardized and improvised methods of studying behaviour on various animal models.
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