Course in Animal Research in Norway, Laboratory animals, theoretical, Functions A and B
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 8
- Teaching semesters Autumn, Spring
- Course code
- CAREIN301
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Objectives and Content
The main aim of the course is to ensure ethical and humane use of animals in biomedical research. Students will learn the principles of experimental design for animal studies and how to collect reliable, objective and reproducible resarch data. The course covers the use of common model organisms in biomedical research: laboratory rodents, swine, model fish (zebrafish, medaka).
The course covers the mandatory theoretical training for personnel that will plan and/or perform animal experiments in Norway. The course meets the competence requirements specified in the Norwegian Regulation on Animal Research (FOR-2015-06-18-761, § 24 and Annex E), corresponding to Article 23 and Annex 5 of Directive 2010/63/EU. The course fulfils the theoretical training requirements for Function A and B in the European Commission´s Education and Training Framework (https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/fca9ae7f-2554-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1/language-enf)
NOTE: To perform procedures on animals (Function A), students must also complete CAREIN practical training. The practical training is offered as separate courses at the cooperating universities in CAREIN (NMBU, NTNU, UiB, UiO and UiT).
The theoretical course covers the modules necessary for function A and B for the relevant species groups. Specifically, the following theoretical EU-modules are covered by the course:
Core modules:
1. National legislation
2. Ethics, animal welfare and the Three Rs (level 1)
3.1 Basic and appropriate biology
4. Animal care, health and management
5. Recognition of pain, suffering, and distress)
6.1 Humane methods of killing
Function specific modules for function A and B:
7. Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia
9. Ethics, animal welfare and the Three Rs (level 2)
10. Design of procedures and projects (level 1)
11. Design of procedures and projects (level 2)
Additional task specific modules for function A and B:
20. Anaesthesia for minor procedures
21. Advanced anaesthesia for surgical or prolonged procedures
22. Principles of surgery
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
The detailed learning outcomes for the course are aligned with the learning outcomes for the topical modules in the EU Commission´s Education and Training Framework (https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/fca9ae7f-2554-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1/language-en).
After completing the course, students will achieve the following overall learning outcomes described in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:
Knowledge
The student can:
- Account for the Norwegian and European legislation regulating animal research
- Understand the key roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in animal research
- Identify and understand ethical and welfare issues raised by the use of animals in research
- Describe and discuss the principles of the anda til 3r sugggest how to implement the 3rs in a specific animal study proposal
- Describe basic biology (anatomy, physiology, genetics, behaviour) of relevant animal models
- Account for appropriate handling and husbandry practices of relevant animal models
- Recognise and describe the principles of pain, pain management, humane endpoints and humane killing of relevant animal models
- Identify potential human health hazards when handling research animals and describe appropriate protective measures
- Account for commonly applied species-specific experimental procedures
- Identify and explain the key factors to consider when planning and designing animal experiments
- Describe and understand the principles of anaesthesia and analgesia
- Describe and understand the basic surgical principles
Skills
The student can...
- consider the use of and apply anda til alternative supplements to animal experiments
- make qualified assessments of and respond appropriately to ethical and animal welfare issues
- actively identify and consider factors that may affect the scientific outcome and reliability of animal experiments
- make qualified decisions on the use of analgesia, anaesthesia, humane endpoints and euthanasia
General competence
The student is...
- able to plan and supervise animal studies
- perform procedures on animals under supervision, and over time work independently
- have a conscious attitude towards preventing human health hazards
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Place of Instruction
The course is web-based (on Canvas / Mitt UiB)
On-campus written examination using the student's own computer. The examination may be taken at one of the CAREiN universities.
Required Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching is delivered online using Mitt UiB as the learning platform. The course consists of both self-study (pre-recorded lectures, videos, written materials, and self-assessments) and live online teaching activities (group work and plenary sessions).
The course runs over a period of approximately 12 weeks and includes self-study, live online teaching activities, and an on-campus written examination. The workload for the self-study component is estimated at approximately four weeks, but this may vary depending on the student’s academic background and experience, particularly in vertebrate biology and physiology. The live online teaching activities are conducted on a fixed weekday throughout the course period (normally Wednesdays).
Students who do not follow the course progression or fail to complete mandatory activities by the specified deadlines (for example, self-assessments, teaching sessions, and live group work) will not be permitted to continue in the course or sit the examination.
The course is designed as a comprehensive and structured training programme to fulfil the legal requirements for theoretical training in laboratory animal science. Therefore, all activities must be completed within the framework of the individual course. Each activity is only valid within the course in which it is completed, whereas the full course completion (all mandatory activities completed) remains valid for three semesters: the semester in which the course is taken and the following two semesters.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
- Completion of individual self-study tasks and tests within defined deadlines
- Participation in live teaching activities (min. 80% attendance)
- Prepare for and participate actively in group work (attendance is registered)
- Submission of group work tasks
Students that do not progress and timely complete mandatory activities (e.g., self-study tasks and tests, live teaching activity, etc.) - will not be allowed to continue the course and take the exam.
The teaching of CAREIN is conducted integrated and sequentially, and holistically provides the students with mandatory training in animal research. For this reason, it is required that all compulsory assignments are completed as a whole within the boundaries of each course. Each compulsory activity is not valid on its own, but total completion of teaching (all compulsory activities). Approved compulsory activities are valid for three semesters: the teaching semester and the two subsequent semesters.
Forms of Assessment
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Reading List
Course Evaluation
Examination Support Material
Programme Committee
Course Coordinator
Course Coordinator
The Course Committee and course coordinators consists of academic representatives from institutions that partake in the consortium - NMBU, NTNU, UiB, UiO and UiT:
- Siri Knudsen (NMBU)
- Siv Eggen/Anne Åm (NTNU)
- Aurora Brønstad/Suzanne Brandt (UiB)
- Henrik Rasmussen/Knut Tomas Dalen/Gro Flatekval/Karin Westereng Handegård (UiO)
- Amalie Hofmeyer Andersen (UiT)
Course Administrator
Course Administrator
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine is responsible for the course.