The main objectives of this course are to:

• provide advanced education, training and expertise in the care and use of vertebrate laboratory animals,
• present the basic philosophical concepts and scientific principles on animal welfare,
• clearly comprehend the vital principles for quality research, and
• provide a international certificate demonstrating competence in working with laboratory animals for research purposes.

 
The contents of the course are in line with the requirements of the new European Directive 2010/63/EU (covering functions A, B, C, D) and the recommendations of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) for the accreditation of Educational and Training courses in Laboratory Animal Sciences. Successful participants will be awarded a certificate, now a requirement according to the revised European Directive, which demonstrates competence in working with laboratory animals for research purposes. Target groups: Professionals, PhD and post-graduate students from all fields of Biomedical Sciences who are responsible for directing as well as for carrying out animal experiments.

The curriculum covered the following topics:

• Ethical aspects: Human-animal relationship. Introduction to Animal Ethics. Ethical dialogue and ethical reasoning. Intrinsic vs. instrumental value of animal. Arguments for and against the use of animals for scientific purposes.
• Welfare: Philosophical concepts of welfare; Biological-functional approach: homeostasis, allostasis. Cognition, appraisal, coping strategies and behaviour.
• Legislation: European laws/directives. National legislation. Notification and authorization procedures. Supervision by regulatory bodies and ethics committees. Writing a laboratory animal license application. Alternatives to animal experiments.
• Biological aspects of laboratory animals (mice, rats and zebrafish): The life-cycle in captivity. Physiology, immunology, behaviour. Anatomy, necropsy, organ removal and fixation.
• Breeding: Reproductive biology. Breeding methods. Quality of gametes and off-spring. Sperm-cryopreservation.
• Genetics: Genetic standardization, Inbred strains; co-isogenic, congenic lines. Transgenic animals; recombinant inbred strains.
• Microbiology and diseases: Diseases of laboratory animals (bacteriology, parasitology, virology). Cleaning, disinfection and sterilization. Health monitoring, diagnosis and prevention of disease.
• Management of the animal facility and its resources: Current education and training requirements with laboratory animals. Operation of the animal facility. Computerised management systems. Health hazards and safe practices in the animal house. Waste disposal. Quality and GLP in Lab Animal Facility
• Anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia: Nociception and pain. Species and individual specificity of pain experience. Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of substances used for anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia. Management and monitoring.
• Design and conduct of research programmes and animal experiments: Choice of an animal model. Experimental design. Statistical analysis and interpretation of results. Defining alternatives; the 3R principle of animal use. Harm/benefit analysis: cases of research studies using laboratory animals in practice.

The course examination has two parts:

1) Written exam (2 hours).  Multiple choice options, covering all topics addressed during the course.
2) Presentation of a research protocol. – Group of 4-6 students working together throughout the course and presented orally. Each presentation of approximately 10 minutes should be accompanied by slides, and the focus should be on one of the laboratory animal species covered in the course.  Evaluation committee & Grading: At least two Professors from the course.

The two aspects of the examination are combined, so that the minimum requirement is 50% on each part of the exam and 60% on average. That is, a student who only obtains 50% in the written exam must have a 70% on the project (Research protocol) evaluation.

Attendants who have not been successful in the written exam will be allowed to a resit exam in their home Institution under the supervision of authorized personnel and in agreement with the organizing committee of the course.