3 ECTS credits
78 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1022144ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Om een inschrijving te kunnen nemen voor 'Laboratory Animal Science 1' moet men geslaagd zijn voor het eerste jaar Bachelor Biomedische Wetenschappen OF moet men ingeschreven zijn in het verkort Bachelorprogramma Biomedische Wetenschappen OF moet mijn ingeschreven zijn in de Master Specialistische geneeskunde OF moet men ingeschreven zijn in de Master Biology
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculteit Geneeskunde en Farmacie
Department
Basis (bio-) medische wetensch
Educational team
Karlijn Debusschere (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
Course Content

Laboratory Animal Science is a multidisciplinary field that covers different aspects encountered when working with laboratory animals. It focuses on the welfare and care of animals used in research, taking into account both animal- as well as experiment-related factors. Knowledge within the field of laboratory animal science will contribute  to the reliability and reproducibility of animal experiments and learn the students how to handle laboratory animals in a responsible and respectful manner. 

According to the Belgian legislation (RD of May 29th 2013) there are 4 levels of education that permit you to work with laboratory animals: 

1) Elementory care of laboratory animals – total of 4 hrs of education in laboratory animal science 

2) Specialised care of laboratory animals – total of 25 hrs of education in laboratory animal science 

3) Active participants in animal experimentation – total of 40 hrs of education in laboratory animal science 

4) Responsible for directing animal experiments (proefleider) - total of 80 hrs of education in laboratory animal science 

Laboratory animal science is subdivided into 3 courses, that correspond to the 4 categories within the Belgian legislation: 

  • Laboratory Animal Science 1: total of 25 hrs of education, corresponding to category 2 in the Belgian legislation - Specialised care of laboratory animals 
  • Laboratory Animal Science 2: total of 40 hrs of education, corresponding to category 3 in the Belgian legislation - Active participants in animal experimentation 
  • Laboratory Animal Science 3: total of 80 hrs of education, corresponding to category 4 in the Belgian legislation - Responsible for directing animal experiments 

This series of course is recognised by the overseeing government, Leefmilieu Brussels. 

Within Laboratory Animal Science 1, students will get acquainted with the following subjects:

  • History of the use of animals in research
    • Introduction to National and European legislation concerning animal experiments
    • Definitions
    • Training and permanent education
    • Housing and care
    • Transport
    • Animal Welfare Body
  • Biology, physiology and ethology of different laboratory animal species
    • Rodents
    • Rabbits
    • Pigs
    • Zebrafish
    • Xenopus
    • Sheep
    • Primates
  • Care, nutrition, surveillance and housing of laboratory animals
  • Manipulating and restraining small animals and performing non-surgical techniques
  • Environmental enrichment
  • Transport of laboratory animals
  • Recognition and relief of decreased welfare and pain
  • Humane endpoints and euthanasia
  • Hygiene and microbiological standardisation
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Practically:
    • Manipulating and restraining small animals
Course material
Handbook (Recommended) : Clinical Laboratory Animal Medicine, An Introduction, Colby - Nowland - Kennedy, 5de, Wiley-Blackwel, 9781119489566, 2019
Digital course material (Recommended) : Laboratory Animal Science 1, Course teachers LAS1
Additional info

This course is recognised by the overseeing government, Leefmilieu Brussels. Passing the exam (min. 10/20) gives you permission to work with laboratory animals as defined by art. 32§5 of the RD May 29th 2013, category 2 – specialised care of laboratory animals

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

In art. 32§5 of the RD May 29th 2013 concerning the protection of animals used in experiments the Department of Animal Welfare stipulated the legal requirements that must be met to be allowed to work with laboratory animals. After following the course Laboratory Animal Science 1, students must:

  • Have knowledge of subject-specific terms
  • Be able to use definitions as described in the RD May 29th 2013 on specific examples
  • Have knowledge of the legal requirements defining housing, handling and care of laboratory animals and be able to evaluate these in practical examples
  • Have knowledge and a thorough understanding of the history of laboratory animal science
  • Have species-specific knowledge of the biology, physiology, ethology and feeding behavior of different animal species and relate this knowledge to housing and care of specific species
  • Have a theoretical and practical knowledge of hygiene and biosafety aspects
  • Have knowledge of waste-management
  • Be able to evaluate the health and welfare of laboratory animals and recognize pain
  • Know the first steps that need to be taken to improve animal welfare and health
  • Know the legal and humane techniques for euthanasia and evaluate their use within a research context
  • Be able to handle mice

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 90% of the final mark.
PRAC Lab Work determines 5% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 5% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 90% of the final mark.

    Note: Written exam: combination of open questions and multiple choice

Within the PRAC Lab Work category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Handling of animals with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 5% of the final mark.

    Note: Handling of animals: excercise with dummy mouse and rat

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Preparation guided tour with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 5% of the final mark.

    Note: Preparatory assignment on housing of laboratory animals that needs to be presented during the guided tour

Additional info regarding evaluation

Examination will be at the end of the course (January exams) by means of a written exam (90% of the total score). Retake of the written exam is possible in the second examination period.

During the course, 2 practical sessions will be organized, with mandatory attendance.

  1. Tour of the animal facility: 5% of the total score
  • Preliminary assignment
  • Tour + presentation during the tour
  1. Handling of animals: 5% of the total score

Absence on the tour and practical session will result in a 0 for this part. This part of the exam cannot be retaken in the second examination period. The partial result will be transferred to the second examination period.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Abridged (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Management and Business (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Clinical Biomedical Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Life sciences
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject