MEDFL5495P – Course In Animal Research In Norway (CAREiN) - Practical training
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
MEDFL5495P provides practical training with handling and basic procedures in mice and rats. MEDFL5495P is a mandatory addition to theoretical training in experimental animal science for all students that intend to perform and conduct hands-on animal experiments themselves under Functions A and D at UiO and OUS, in accordance with Articles 23 and 24 of the EU Directive 2010/63/EU. (Function A = person carrying out procedures on animals and D = euthanasia of animals).
Practical training is an integral part of the requirements in the Norwegian Regulation on Animal Experiment, § 24 and Annex E, Points 1-11, and adheres to the practical training requirements for Core Modules for function A and D in the EU Education and Training Framework.
Documentation of theoretical training in relevant species is a prerequisite to qualify for practical training and enrollment in MEDFL5495P. Hence, MEDFL5495P is only a relevant course for students that have signed up for the national theoretical CAREIN course at UiB the same semester or have previously completed MEDFL5495T, CAREIN, or a similar theoretical experimental animal course.
Students that require practical training in handling of laboratory rodents are expected to complete such practical training in the laboratory animal facility at their own institution. The laboratory animal facility providing practical training will adhere to a practical training manual defined by the CAREiN consortium (developed in collaboration between UiT, NTNU, UiB and UiO). Practical training must be organized by CAREiN accredited instructors at the animal facilities.
See also
- CAREIN (national course from 2023, developed and organized by the CAREIN consortium).
- MEDFL5495T Course In Animal Research In Norway (CAREiN) - Theoretical training (Former theoretical course at UiO, content similar to CAREIN).
Learning outcome
The course provides introduction to and hand-on training in correct handling and basic experimental techniques used in rodents, according to the requirements in the EU Commissions Education and Training Framework Document. At the end of the practical training, the competence of the students will be assessed by their ability to accomplish defined assignments, enabling approved students to practice further under supervision of experienced personnel in their research team and/or department.
Admission
The course is a mandatory course for students working with research animals.
The course is restricted to students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.
How to apply
- Students apply in StudentWeb.
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After applying in StudentWeb you will receive a webform that you will be asked to fill out this in order to complete your registration to this course.
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Answer to the course applicants will be sent by email continuously.
The courses MEDFL5495P and MF9495P have common admission.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students that require admission to this course must have signed up for theoretical CAREIN course at UiB this semester, or previously completed MEDFL5495T or a similar theoretical experimental animal course (e.g. arranged at UiT, NTNU or UiB) with formal prerequisite knowledge similar to theoretical CAREIN. Such theoretical training must be evaluated and approved by the course organizers prior to attending practical training (documentation of theoretical training must be submitted in the web form as described above).
Overlapping courses
2 credits overlap with the practical VH-LAB Laboratory Animal Science for Researchers.
Teaching
The teaching will consist of:
Three days of mandatory practical training in handling of laboratory rodents (mice and rats).
Practical training in handling of laboratory rodents (mice and rats) must be provided by CAREiN accredited instructors. CAREiN institutions with accredited CAREiN instructors includes UiO, UiT, NTNU, NMBU and UiB. Students shall attend practical training organized by the animal facility in the CAREiN institution where the student belongs to/will be working in after completion of the course. Practical training will be assigned to the nearest CAREiN-facility if own institution is not a CAREiN-facility. The lab animal facility providing the practical training must adhere to the manual of practical training in rodents, as defined by the CAREiN consortium (UiO, UiT, NTNU, UiB and NMBU).
Time slots for practical training:
The majority of course participants attend MEDFL5495T and MEDFL5495P in the same semester. Time slots for practical training will vary between animal research facilities and will be scheduled after completion of the obligatory test in MEDFL5495T the same semester. Time slots for each training facility will be announced via Canvas for this course (MEDFL5495P). Students at UiO will have the ability to sign themselves up to the preferred time-slot at their own institution. Students outside UiO will be informed of rules for practical training at their own institution via Canvas.
Practical training in pigs or model fish:
Students planning to use other species covered in the theoretical modules of CAREiN (pigs or model fish) must organize an additional minimum 14 hours of relevant training with these species according to learning objectives defined by the course committee. Supervisor(s) providing such training in practical handling and use of pigs or model fish must certify such training and the certificate must be provided for approval to the course committee.
Participation in practical training with rodents (MEDFL5495P) is a prerequisite for obtaining a passed course certificate in other species included in the theoretical training.
Teaching in basic techniques in rodents:
Students participating in the practical training of CAREiN will be introduced to animal handling and the most basic techniques with rodents. The students must practice these under competent supervision. The goal of the course is for the students to achieve basic skills, thus enabling them to practice further under the supervision of their own research team/ department.
Practical training in basic techniques - mice:
- Observation and characterization of normal mice behavior.
- Euthanasia by CO2 and cervical dislocation.
- Physical handling (lifting and transporting mice), restraint, and earmarking.
- Injections (IP, SC) and blood sampling (vena saphena, pedal vein).
- Dissection and harvest of organs.
Practical training in basic techniques - rat:
- Observation and characterization of normal rat behavior.
- Physical handling (lifting and moving rats), restraint.
- Injections (IP, SC) and blood sampling (vena saphena, pedal vein).
Additional optional techniques may be teached, based on student competence and needs.
To pass the course, students must demonstrate their ability to perform the listed practical skills according to defined competence criteria.
Examination
To pass the practical training and be allowed to practice further under the supervision of experienced personnel and eventually perform and conduct animal experiments on their own, the student must demonstrate sufficient competence during practical handling and performance of procedures with experimental animals.
Course Diploma
Upon satisfactory completion of MEDFL5495P, students will be provided with a course diploma that document the basic practical training that is required for performing EU functions A and D, and the species included in the training.
The course diploma from MEDFL5495P is not a lab animal course diploma in itself. To fulfill requirements in the EU directive, the practical course diploma must be supported by documentation of theoretical training with relevant species in EU functions A, B and D (national theoretical CAREIN course at UiB, previous completion of MEDFL5495T, or a similar theoretical experimental animal course).
The course diploma from UiO (Functions A+D certificate) will be issued by the Student administration, stating the species included in the training (minimum rodents).
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.