Course content

Legislation, ethics and views in society; the course of events in animal experiments; biology of lab animals; the choice of species; genetical and environmental factors influencing animal experiments; health hazards; principles concerning the handling of animals, anesthesia, analgesia and humane killing of lab animals; evaluation and quality control of animal experiments; reporting; alternatives to animals experiments; literature search.

The course will contain of a general part (3 days) and selectable part (2 days) where the student can shoose between mammal or fish.

Learning outcome

After having completed the course, the researcher should:
-know the principles behind modern theory on animal experiments and welfare -know the legislature regulating the use of lab animals in Norway -know the potential health hazards related to animal experiments, and how to minimize these hazards -understand the significance of the internal and external factors influencing a lab animal and which thereby may influence the outcome of the experiment
-know how to work in order to best possible standardize these factors
-know roughly how to monitor the health of lab animals
-understand the most important principles for chosing methods for handling and treating lab animals
-understand the principles behind anesthesia, analgesia and humane killing of lab animals -understand the general principles for planning animal experiments, including quality control -know of the potential alternatives and supplements to animal experiments which exist -be able to evaluate a published article on animal experiments with emphasis on how the animals are described and used -know of and be able to use guidelines for good reporting of animal experiments -have insight into the most important factors which decide the running of a research department using lab animals -have an attitude towards the lab animals which reflect "the three R's" with focus on animal protection and animal welfare (Replace, Reduce, Refine).

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, demonstrations and tours, study groups and individual assignments. The course consists of 35 hours of lectures and preparations for these, 24 hours of self-tuition (group work and individual assignments) and 21 hours of practical training. The requirements are set by the Department of agriculture.
(http://oslovet.veths.no/Oppl/nye.html#KatC)

Compulsory assignments

• Lectures
• Colloqiums
• Individual assignment

Recommended previous knowledge

Biomedical education on university or college level, courses in statistics, knowledge of literature search on the internet and in the library.

Required previous knowledge

A 3-year education on university or college level is a prerequisite in order for the participant to use the title "FELASA category C, Researcher" when the compulsory activities (see the below) have been carried out.

Course materials

All students must buy compendium "Laboratory Animal Science" or "Forsøksdyrlære for fiskeforskere".
Optional the students in addition can buy the compendium "Laboratory Animal Science: photocopy collection"

Credit reductions