Course syllabus for Bioethics and Laboratory Animal Science

Bioetik och försöksdjursvetenskap

Specific entry requirements

At least the grade G (pass) for the part "Biomedicine - Professional Skills" in the course Frontiers in Biomedicine within the Master's programme in Biomedicine.

Outcomes

The aim of the course is to equip the student with knowledge and skills of ethical, legal and practical aspects of the use of laboratory animals in research and to develop the student's ability to reason in bioethical issues in general.

Upon completion of the course, the student should meet the defined learning outcomes set out in the Swedish Legislation and the EU Education and Training Framework for people who undertake experimental minor procedures (EU modules 1-7) involving rodents. Students will also achieve basic insights into minimally invasive procedures on mice (EU modules 3.2, 6.2 and 8) and rats (EU modules 3.2) and initial knowledge on the design of animal experiments and good scientific practice in animal research (EU modules 9-11).

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Regarding knowledge and understanding

• describe key principles of Swedish Legislation and the EU directive regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes
• identify ethical and welfare issues in relation to the use of animals in science, including basic principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement)
• describe basic principles of anatomy, physiology, reproduction, nutrition, behavior, husbandry, enrichment and genetics for rodents
• describe the basic principles in the biology and the housing of other species used in laboratory animal science,
• describe various aspects of species-specific animal health, care and management, including control of the environment, husbandry practices, diet, health status and disease for rodents,
• identify behavioural species-specific signs of discomfort, pain, suffering, and distress for rodents,
• describe appropriate principles for and different methods of euthanasia for rodents,
• account for basic theories, principles, and concepts within biomedical ethics with relevance for biomedicine.

Regarding competence and skills

• simulate minor techniques, such as injections (dosing/blood sampling), on mice and rats,
• demonstrate an ethical, respectful and considerate attitude to research animals and their tissues.
• identify and perform an analysis of ethical problems, positions, and arguments within biomedicine,
• coherently argue for and against courses of action on how to deal with an ethical problem within biomedicine.

Regarding judgement and approach

• discuss principles and concepts of experimental design of studies on rodents,
• recognize good scientific practice in animal research in particular and in biomedicine in general,
• reflect on one's own and others' values and norms.

Content

The course is divided into the following parts:

Bioethics, 3.0 credits

Grading scale: Fail/Pass
This part includes seminars with problem-based cases where a toolbox of bioethical concepts, principles and theories is introduced through a combination of readings and lectures. Individual bioethical reflections are written and discussed. Students identify value conflicts and ethical problems and coherently argue for and against them reflecting on their own and the others' values and norms.

Laboratory Animal Science, 4.5 credits

Grading scale: Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction
This part of the course provides education and theoretical training in laboratory animal science with a focus on rodents, and provides basic training in designing experimental studies and analyzing scientific literature and/or data that have been generated from studies involving animals.

It contains web-based and on-site lectures on the requirements of Swedish legislation and the recommendations of the EU Directive concerning the scientific use of animals, ethical issues, basic species-specific biology, normal behavior of rodents, handling, breeding needs and enrichment, signs of discomfort, pain and suffering in rodents, the basis for disease control and how to manage hygiene in animal houses and experimental work.

The students will also gain an insight into animal handling in animal laboratory. Demonstration of handling, dosing, blood sampling and euthanasia will be performed.

Project work be performed in groups in which the students will analyze ethical applications in relation to the 3Rs and will present orally.

No procedures will be performed on live animals.

Teaching methods

The course has a blended learning approach using synchronous and asynchronous education and training, including web-based learning, which is combined and supported with synchronous (live online and in-person seminars, interactive sessions, discussions, tutorials, and demonstrations of the handling of mice and rats. In addition, a project work is included where ethical applications are analysed, presented orally and discussed by the students in a group. In the Bioethics part, students prepare and participate in collaborative panel discussions on important bioethics topics.

Examination

Laboratory animal science (4.5 credits). The examination consists of the student's performance and attitude in the laboratory part, examination of the web-based learning, an oral group presentation and a final written exam. The grade Passed with distinction is based on the final exam.

Bioethics (3 credits). The examination consists of group presentations and individual discussion of selected bioethical topics.

To pass the whole course (grade of "Pass" or above), a grade of at least "Pass" must have been obtained for both parts of the course. To obtain a final grade of "Pass with distinction", a grade of "Pass with distinction" must be obtained for the Laboratory Animal Science part and Pass in the Bioethics part.

Compulsory participation
Seminars, interactive sessions, discussions, practical sessions and oral presentations are compulsory. The examiner assesses if and, in that case, how absence from compulsory components can be compensated. The student must participate in all compulsory parts or compensate for absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, in order to pass the course. Absence from a compulsory activity may result in the student not being able to compensate the absence until the next time the course is given.

Limitations of the number of examinations or practical training sessions:
A student who does not pass an examination at their first attempt is entitled to participate in five additional examination sessions. If the student does not pass after four examinations, he/she is recommended to retake the course at the next regular course occasion, and may, after that, participate in two more examination sessions. If the student has failed six examinations, no additional examination sessions are provided.

Physically attending or otherwise commencing an examination is regarded as an examination session. Handing in a blank exam is considered taking part in an examination session. An examination, for which the student registered but did not participate, is not counted as an examination session.

Adaption of examination
If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Other directives

The course language is English and examination is performed in English.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee of Higher Education.

Oral evaluation in the form of course council meetings will be carried out during the course.