Program Overview
Program Overview
The MSc Programme in Veterinary Medicine offers a course in Biomedicine, which is a differentiation course (elective) that provides students with relevant veterinary competences and qualifications required in the broad field of biomedical research.
Course Description
The course includes modules addressing various topics in biomedical research and laboratory animal science, including laboratory animal housing and handling, experimental design and biostatistical methods, in vivo pharmacology and toxicology, experimental surgery, drug development, and animal models of human diseases. The course also covers societal aspects and provides relevant theoretical and practical knowledge, skills, and competences.
Learning Outcomes
The aim of the course is to provide students with qualifications to manage a housing facility for experimental animals, design, perform, and evaluate laboratory animal experiments in biomedical research, and assess pharmacology and toxicology in vivo. Students will also gain knowledge of immunology, genetics, experimental pathology, and histopathology centered on animal models of human diseases and the role of these subjects when applied in drug and vaccine development.
Knowledge
After the course, students are expected to be able to:
- Describe modern diagnostic methods and principles when using experimental animal models for research purposes
- Describe and summarize rules and regulations, principles, methods, and terminology relevant for the planning, execution, and evaluation of experimental animal research projects
- Describe various animal models for human diseases as presented in the course
- Describe principles of housing, breeding, and use of laboratory animals, including how to avoid spontaneous infections in an animal facility
- Describe basic procedures and practical methodologies in Laboratory Animal Science, including experimental surgery
- Describe in vivo pharmacological methods and evaluation of drug effect and principles of regulatory toxicology testing
- Present methods to identify virulence factors of microorganisms
- Describe the principles of vaccine development and effects of use of vaccines
- Describe selected genetic technologies used in biomedical research
- Describe pathological and histopathological findings and hallmarks and elaborate on the underlying pathological processes and disease aetiology
Skills
After the course, students are expected to be able to:
- Explain and assess strengths and weaknesses of commonly used laboratory methods in biomedicine
- Evaluate the use of in vitro and in vivo methodology in research and drug development
- Use statistical and inference methods and apply those when designing an in vivo experiment and analyzing data material
- Present and explain sources of errors in statistical analysis, such as bias and variation, and how to control for them
- Evaluate histological lesions and reactions in laboratory animals
- Use basic surgical methods in laboratory animal science
- Analyze, evaluate, and present results from simple diagnostic tests in experimental animals
- Explain and apply the basic methodologies and principles demonstrated and practiced at the practical and theoretical exercises during the course work
Competences
After the course, students are expected to be able to:
- Work independently with problem-solving, diagnosing, and presenting relevant findings in laboratory animal science and animal models of diseases
- Use knowledge on virulence factors to reflect on their role in the development of methods to control infections
- Be able to work independently with basic procedures
- Discuss ethical theories on the use of animals in research and on animal welfare, including the 3 Rs
- Discuss the ethical use of animals and in vitro methods in research and product development
- Discuss strength and weaknesses of common animal models presented in the course modules
- Discuss the methods of induction in presented animal models as well as reflecting on their validity
- Be able to design, execute, evaluate, and manage experimental animal research projects
- Use theoretical and practical methodology in laboratory experiments employing live animals
- Critically evaluate experimental designs and stated outcomes
- Use acquired knowledge to assess novel problems or problem areas and confidently apply knowledge-based suggestions for solutions
- Be able to find new information/literature on topics within the area of biomedicine and critically evaluate results and information presented in the literature
- Be able to take responsibility for own professional development and specialization
- Be able to confidently and competently present, communicate, and discuss scientific research results
Literature
Various materials, including videos, exercise descriptions, hand-outs, and recommended papers and selected textbooks, will be used. An updated list of relevant material and suggested further readings will be posted on the course homepage before course start and during the individual course modules.
Mandatory Formal Requirements for Course Registration
Approved course certificate on the following courses:
- SVEK13043U Veterinary Imaging
- SVEK13023U Akutmedicin, obstetrik, intensiv terapi og klinisk anæstesiologi
- SVEK13007U Almen klinisk praksis familiedyr
- SVEK13008U Almen klinisk praksis, store husdyr
- SVEK13006U Praktisk besætningsrådgivning og kødkontrol
- SVEK13044U Veterinary Paraclinics Passed the following courses:
- Medicin, kirurgi og reproduktion - mindre og store husdyr SVEK13005 og SVEK13004
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course consists of both theoretical and practical teaching. The evaluation model is survey-based.
Remarks
After completing the full course, participants will be certified to independently plan, implement, and take responsibility for the design and performance of animal experimentation within the European Union according to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU Article 23.2 and the Danish executive order 2028 of 14/12/2020, §56
Workload
- Lectures: 171 hours
- Preparation: 292 hours
- Theory exercises: 36 hours
- Practical exercises: 40 hours
- Project work: 110 hours
- Guidance: 10 hours
- Exam Preparation: 65 hours
- Exam: 4 hours
- Total: 728 hours
Exam
- Credit: 26.5 ECTS
- Type of assessment: On-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilation
- Type of assessment details: Written case-based examination at CPH-exam venue in practical and theoretical skills obtained during the course
- Passing the exam in Biomedicine provides FELASA authorization EU function abd
Examination Prerequisites
- Modules requiring evaluation must be passed (godkendt kursusattest)
- The student must have 80% attendance to practicals with live animals
- The One-Health module group report must be approved
- The posters, which are prepared during the course, must be passed (godkendt kursusattest)
- To pass the Biomedicine course and acquire the EU function abd certification, the Biomedicine final examination must be passed
Aid
No aids allowed
Marking Scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship Form
No external censorship, internal censorship with more than one examiner
Re-exam
- Type of assessment: Oral examination
- Type of assessment details: 30 minutes examination
- Preparation: None
- Invigilation: None
- Aid: None
Criteria for Exam Assessment
To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student must demonstrate satisfactory acquisition of the measurable learning outcomes, primarily put into practice as stated below.
Knowledge
- Must demonstrate ability to define, explain, analyze, and discuss animal models presented during the course
- Must be able to explain and discuss principles of housing, breeding, and using live animals for experimentation as presented during the course
- Should present a broad knowledge on various laboratory methods and be able to present, explain, and discuss these methods, including applicability, limitations, challenges, and benefits
- Must demonstrate the ability to present, explain, and discuss in detail relevant histopathological findings of relevant animal models, including detailed histopathological findings in relation to a specific disease or insult
Skills
- Must be able to discuss and explain principles of drug development and the application of experimental animals in in vivo pharmacology and regulatory toxicology
- Must be able to analyze and critically evaluate experimental data obtained from in vivo studies
- Must be able to summarize, discuss, and judge (defend as well as criticize) all aspects of the work of peers in the form of a presented poster prepared during the course or as a constructed case presented at the exam
Competences
- Must be able to - based on knowledge acquired during the entire course - deduce and independently suggest possible ways to proceed with future research
- Must be able to independently incorporate and combine knowledge from all modules taught during the course when approaching the exam questions
- Must be able to reflect on advantages and disadvantages of specific animal models, experimental methods, and experimental design
Course Information
- Language: English
- Course code: SVEK13010U
- Credit: 26.5 ECTS
- Level: Full Degree Master
- Duration: 2 blocks
- Placement: Block 3 and Block 4
- Final schedule for the course will be listed on Absalon two weeks prior to course start
- There is no teaching in block week 8 in block 4
Study Board
The Study Board for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Contracting Department
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Contracting Faculty
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Dorte Bratbo Sørensen (Chief responsible)
- Pernille Tveden-Nyborg
Lecturers
Teachers and researchers from the University as well as from relevant, external sources.