Use of research animals curriculum

Students will acquire an appreciation of:

Frameworks and principles

• The relevant legal and regulatory structures and ethical review processes governing the use of research animals
• The legal and moral obligations and intervention mechanisms to protect the welfare of research animals
• The ethical principles of the use of research animals, including harm-benefit analysis
• The lifetime experience of research animals, including care and husbandry
• The principles of Culture of Care
• The existence of recognised methods for the humane killing of research animals
• Societal attitudes to animal research
• How animal welfare considerations should underpin all aspects of the use of research animals
• Their personal ethical and moral boundaries and views

How and when research animals are used

• Why research animals are used, including advantages and limitations
• The principle that research animals should only be used where there are no alternative approaches to address the same scientific question
• The rationale for the use of different species in research
• How research animals are used to understand fundamental physiology and pathophysiology
• How research animals are used in the drug discovery and development process, including regulatory obligations and translational studies
• The role of research animals in the acquisition of experimental cells, tissues and fluids
• The impact of the use of research animals on the prevention and/or treatment of disease in both humans and animals

Experimental design, analysis and communication

• The principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the use of research animals and how these impact upon research animal welfare and experimental outcomes
• The importance of good experimental design (eg randomisation, blinding, power calculations, managing variability) and correct analysis
• The concept that research animal welfare impacts upon reproducibility and reliability of data
• How predictive models (eg in silico) can complement and sometimes replace the use of research animals
• Appropriate reporting standards for sharing of research
• How to keep up to date with the relevant literature and developments, including 3Rs and research animal welfare
• How to openly and effectively communicate the use of research animals to scientific and non-scientific audiences

Fundamental science

• The anatomy and physiology of research animals
• The signs of stress and pain and the mechanisms that cause them
• How observed responses in research animals arise from the integration of a number of biological systems
• The relationship between the physiological responses of research animals and those in humans
• Appropriate statistical tools and analytical methods used to interpret data from studies using research animals
• The various ways research animals can be used, including ex vivo and non-recovery preparations as well as the use of conscious animals for the study of physiological, pharmacological, pathological and therapeutic problems
• How genetically altered animals are generated
• The effects genetic alteration may have on many body systems, with consequences for the data gathered
• New and emerging approaches, techniques and principles in animal research

Students will be able to:

• Interpret and critically evaluate experimental planning and design for the use of research animals
• Interpret and critically evaluate data from research animals
• Make an informed choice about pursuing a career involving the use of research animals

Students will demonstrate awareness that anybody working with research animals should display:

• A respectful and considerate attitude to research animals and their tissues
• Awareness of the culture of care within an animal facility and a willingness to actively participate in it
• The ability to recognise their limitations and be willing to ask for support
• A willingness to intervene appropriately when animal welfare is at risk
• A collegiate attitude to animal technicians, animal technologists, Named Veterinary Surgeons and other personnel
• A commitment to apply the 3Rs across the research process
• A commitment to animal welfare across the research process
• A commitment to working within the legal and ethical frameworks governing the use of research animals

• Good practice in biosecurity to mitigate harms to humans, animals and the environment
• The important role of mentors and experienced personnel in education and training

• The need for assessment of the welfare of research animals including pre and post-operative care and the use of anaesthetics and analgesics
• Appropriate formulations and routes of administration of compounds used in experiments
• Recovery and non-recovery surgical techniques applicable to animal research
• How pharmacological agents (eg anaesthetic) or environmental conditions (eg subclinical infections) can affect experimental outcomes

In addition to the skills statements in the core curriculum, students will be able to:

• Set appropriate exclusion and termination criteria with regard to welfare limits and the quality of experimental data
• Appropriately handle at least one species of research animal
• Gain experiential learning through direct involvement in at least one of the following:
  • Ex vivo (in situ/semi-intact) eg working heart brainstem
  • Terminally anaesthetised research animals
  • Conscious research animals eg behavioural or pharmacological study
  • Surgical techniques eg cadavers, use of reputable/realistic simulation
• Engage in discourse (at least with peers) about the use of research animals