Postgraduate course on Laboratory Animal Science

The one-year postgraduate course on laboratory animal science, as organized by the department, is mandatory by law for veterinarians who wish to work as animal welfare officer within institutions with a license for animal experiments. This course is in Dutch only. Participants are offered a tailor-made programme, depending on their previous curriculum and experience in the field of laboratory animal science and/or research. This is realized by adaptations of a standard programme, covering all aspects needed for qualification. The standard programme as organized by the department consists of the following modules:

• Introductory course in laboratory animal science (2 weeks)
• Husbandry and management aspects (4 weeks): general aspects of housing and care of laboratory animals; supply of laboratory animals; quarantine; management of animal colonies; production systems.
• Good Laboratory Practice (1 week): GLP-guidelines; procedures of inspection of laboratories. 
• Genetic quality control (1 week): techniques for genetic characterization; monitoring the genetic quality of strains.
• Health monitoring and pathology (5 weeks): practical methods of microbiological quality control; diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases in colonies of laboratory animals.
• Behaviour, welfare and stress (6 weeks): written report based on a review of selected literature.
• Anaesthesia; analgesia; surgical procedures (5 weeks): practical training under supervision of experienced technicians and investigators.
• Ethics and legislation (2 weeks): ethical considerations on the use of animals for research; national and international regulations; registration of animal use.

Each module is finished with a written report and/or an oral test.

A research project of 6 months (including a course in methodology and statistics) is part of the standard programme. This research project is finished with a report or publication in a scientific journal.

Candidates with ample experience may be exempted from parts of the programme. The programme and the candidate's curriculum are evaluated by an Advisory Board. Both programme and candidate need the approval of the Board