Course In Animal Research In Norway (CAREiN) - Practical training

Students that require admission to this course must have:

• signed up for theoretical CAREIN course this semester, or
• previously completed MEDFL5495T, or
• previously completed 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 on previously completed theoretical training must be submitted in the web form as described above.

The course is a mandatory course for students working with research animals.

The course is reserved for students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.

Students apply for this course in StudentWeb.

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.

Answer to the course applicants will be sent by e-mail continuously.

Inquiries about registration and course certificate should be sent to [email protected].

The teaching will consist of:

Three days of mandatory practical training in the handling of laboratory rodents (mice and rats) provided by CAREiN-accredited instructors. CAREiN institutions with accredited CAREiN instructors include UiO, UiT, NTNU, NMBU and UiB. Students shall attend practical training organized by the laboratory animal facility at the CAREiN institution where the student belongs and/or will be working after completion of the course. If the course participants own institution is not a CAREiN-accredited facility, practical training will be assigned to the nearest facility with CAREiN accredited instructors.

The CAREiN-accredited instructors and the laboratory 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 theoretical CAREIN at UiB and MEDFL5495P in the same semester. Time slots for practical training will vary between laboratory animal facilities and will be scheduled after completion of the obligatory MCQ test in the theoretical CAREIN course during the same semester. Time slots for each training facility will be announced via Canvas for this course (MEDFL5495P). Students at UiO and OUS will have the ability to sign themselves up for the preferred time slot at their own institution. Students outside UiO/OUS will be informed of rules and contact persons 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 of 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 be able to certify their own training and competence in the relevant species. A course certificate or equivalent documentation of practical competence 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. After the practical training course, students must train and practice the attained skills under competent supervision in their research group. 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 (demonstration) and cervical dislocation.
• Physical handling (lifting and transporting mice), restraint, and ear notching.
• Injections (IP, SC) and blood sampling (vena saphena, tail vein).
• Intravenous (IV) injection, tail vein (demonstration).
• Blood sampling by cardiac puncture (demonstration).
• Dissection and harvesting 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, tail vein).

Additional optional techniques may be demonstrated, based on student competence and needs.

To pass the practical training, the student must demonstrate sufficient competence during practical handling and be able to perform the listed practical skills according to defined competence criteria listed above. When the practical training has been passed, the student will be allowed to practice further under the supervision of experienced personnel and eventually perform and conduct animal experiments on their own.

Course Diploma:

Once the student administration have received documentation confirming the successful completion of both the national theoretical CAREIN course (alternatively previous MEDFL5495T or another approved equivalent course), and the practical MEDFL5495P course, they will issue the CAREiN Practical Certificate. The CAREiN Practical Certificate documents that the candidate has passed the basic practical training required for performing EU functions A and D for the listed species included in the training (minimum rodents).

The diploma issued from the MEDFL5495P practical course does not, by itself, qualify as a laboratory animal course diploma. 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, previous completion of MEDFL5495T, or a similar theoretical experimental animal course).