LabVet Europe

This module summarises the statutory duties and professional requirements of the Designated Veterinarian. It compares the roles, interactions and responsibilities of those working under the Directive within an establishment and explain the legal composition and the role of Animal Welfare Body.

The module focuses on explaining the role of a Veterinarian in directing prescription, order, storage and dispensing and disposal of medicines for animals maintained at authorized establishments and used in products. It describes the role of the Designated Veterinarian in the import and export, and transport of laboratory animals.

The module focuses on the definition of the Three Rs:

• Replace the use of animals with different techniques;
• Reduce the number of animals used; and
• Refine the way experiments are carried out, to make sure the animals suffer as little as possible.

The module provides examples of application of each R to a breeding/supplier/user establishment. It justifies the importance of good animal health and welfare and recognises the relationship between health and welfare and scientific validity.

This module gives you an overview of the principles of laboratory animal husbandry, an outline of the main principles of cage/enclosure design and construction and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of caging systems.

The principles relating to the choice of appropriate environmental conditions and types of environmental enrichment used for laboratory animals will be explained.

The module outlines the principles of hygiene, disinfection and sterilisation that apply to the laboratory animal facility including the parameters influencing water quality, how to check for water quality and how to interpret results (24.22.)

The course summarizes basic principles of disease surveillance, prevention and management in laboratory animals and the principles of health monitoring schemes. This includes information on relevant microorganisms infecting laboratory animals such as their classification, the potential impact on research and animal health, their zoonotic potential, their prevention, diagnosis, treatment and eradication, as well as the clinical appearance, aetiology and pathology of common laboratory animal diseases (24.16.). 

his module discusses the creation and use of genetically altered (GA) animals in research including common types of GA animals and uses in research and different ways to create and evaluate GA animals, as well as how these are designated according to international guidelines for nomenclature (24.25.).

This module will demonstrate adequate knowledge of the management of anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery in the context of animals used for scientific purposes (24.26.).

This module gives knowledge on how human diseases appear when modelled in common species of laboratory animals.

Requirements for participation

Participation in the module requires that you have the skills to proficiently and humanely carry out euthanasia using appropriate techniques on relevant species of laboratory animals (6.2.1). Participation also requires that you have skill to demonstrate how death is confirmed and how cadavers should be processed or otherwise disposed of (6.2.2).

This module outlines the purposes of a routine animal house visit and touch upon how to deal with issues arising (24.13.). The course module will outline the preparation required for routine visits (24.14.).

During this module, it will be discussed how the scope and the spirit of the Directive 2010/63/EU and other legislation and guidelines pertain to the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in your establishment (50.1.).

You must describe your local organogram and your role within it (50.2.). Therefore, you are obliged to find a qualified and local supervisor.

Module elements:

• 1 site visit in an animal facility must be performed
• 1 specific and confidential discussion list for discussing site visit issues
• Mandatory written report under supervision

Primary books

You can buy the books via Academic Books. The remaining material, e.g. review papers, guidelines, and legislative documents is included in the price.

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010
• Dean H. Percy, Stephen W. Barthold: Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits, Third Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Chapters 2007.

Module 1: Legislation and Veterinary Communication

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010.
  • William J. White, Sonja T. Chou, Carl B. Kole and Roy Sutcliffe: Transportation of Laboratory Animals, pages 169–182, 2010.
  • Kathryn Bayne, Timothy H. Morris and Malcolm P. France: Legislation and Oversight of the Conduct of Research Using Animals: A Global Overview, pages 107–123.
  • EU regulations on animals used for scientific purposes
  • https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/index_en.htm
  • EU regulations of animal import, export and transport:
    • https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/live_animals_en
    • https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare/practice/transport_en
  • G M Poirier et al:ESLAV/ECLAM/LAVA/EVERI recommendations for the roles, responsibilities and training of the laboratory animal veterinarian and the designated veterinarian under Directive 2010/63/EU Lab Anim April 2015 49: 89-99, first published on November 21, 2014 doi:10.1177/0023677214557717.

Module 2: Ethics, Animal Welfare and the Three Rs

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010.
  • Jon Richmond: The Three Rs, pages 3–22.
  • Naomi Latham: Brief Introduction to Welfare Assessment: A ‘Toolbox’ of Techniques, pages 76–91.
• National Competent Authorities for the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes: Working document on a severity assessment framework, European Commission, Brussels, 11-12 July 2012–

Module 3A: Animal Care, Management, and Veterinary Communication

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010
  • Barbara Holgate: Planning, Design and Construction of Efficient Animal Facilities, pages 124–135.
  • Robert Hubrecht: Enrichment: Animal Welfare and Experimental Outcomes, pages 136–146.
  • Mike Dennis: Special Housing Arrangements, pages 147–162.
  • Vera Baumans: The Laboratory Mouse, pages 276–310.
  • Jaap M. Koolhaas: The Laboratory Rat, pages 311–326.
  • Sylvia Kaiser, Christine Krüger and Norbert Sachser: The Guinea Pig, pages 380–398.
  • Lena Lidfors and Therese Edström: The Laboratory Rabbit, pages 399–417.
  • Judy Macarthur Clark and C. Jane Pomeroy: The Laboratory Dog, pages 432–452.
  • Sandra McCune: The Domestic Cat, pages 453–472.
  • Wolfgang Holtz: Pigs and Minipigs, pages 473–494.
  • Hannah M. Buchanan-smith: Marmosets and Tamarins, pages 543–563.
  • Lawrence E. Williams, Alan G. Brady and Christian R. Abee: Squirrel Monkeys, pages 564–578.
  • James R. Anderson and Elisabetta Visalberghi: Capuchin monkeys, pages 579–591.
  • Sarah Wolfensohn: Old World Monkeys, pages 592–617.
  • James F. Turnbull and Iain Berrill: Fish, pages 761–784.

Module 3B: Health

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010
  • Barbara Holgate: Planning, Design and Construction of Efficient Animal Facilities, pages 124–135.
  • Vera Baumans: The Laboratory Mouse, pages 276–310.
  • Jaap M. Koolhaas: The Laboratory Rat, pages 311–326.
  • Sylvia Kaiser, Christine Krüger and Norbert Sachser: The Guinea Pig, pages 380–398.
  • Lena Lidfors and Therese Edström: The Laboratory Rabbit, pages 399–417.
  • Judy Macarthur Clark and C. Jane Pomeroy: The Laboratory Dog, pages 432–452.
  • Sandra McCune: The Domestic Cat, pages 453–472.
  • Wolfgang Holtz: Pigs and Minipigs, pages 473–494.
  • Hannah M. Buchanan-smith: Marmosets and Tamarins, pages 543–563.
  • Lawrence E. Williams, Alan G. Brady and Christian R. Abee: Squirrel Monkeys, pages 564–578.
  • James R. Anderson and Elisabetta Visalberghi: Capuchin monkeys, pages 579–591.
  • Sarah Wolfensohn: Old World Monkeys, pages 592–617.
  • James F. Turnbull and Iain Berrill: Fish, pages 761–784.
  • Mähler  M, Berard M, Feinstein R, Gallagher A, Illgen-Wilcke B, Pritchett-Corning K, et al. FELASA working group on revision of guidelines for health monitoring of rodents and rabbits: FELASA recommendations for the health monitoring of mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig and rabbit colonies in breeding and experimental units. Laboratory Animals 2014.
  • Dean H. Percy, Stephen W. Barthold: Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits, Third Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007.
    • Chapter 1 – Mouse.
    • Chapter 2 – Rat.
    • Chapter 5 – Guinea Pig.
    • Chapter 6 – Rabbit

Module 3C: Genetics and Breeding

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010
  • Michael F. W. Festing and Cathleen Lutz: Introduction to Laboratory Animal Genetics, pages 37–60.

Module 4: Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Surgery

• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010
  • Vera Baumans: The Laboratory Mouse, pages 276–310.
  • Jaap M. Koolhaas: The Laboratory Rat, pages 311–326.
  • Sylvia Kaiser, Christine Krüger and Norbert Sachser: The Guinea Pig, pages 380–398.
  • Lena Lidfors and Therese Edström: The Laboratory Rabbit, pages 399–417.
  • Judy Macarthur Clark and C. Jane Pomeroy: The Laboratory Dog, pages 432–452.
  • Sandra McCune: The Domestic Cat, pages 453–472.
  • Wolfgang Holtz: Pigs and Minipigs, pages 473–494.
  • Hannah M. Buchanan-smith: Marmosets and Tamarins, pages 543–563.
  • Lawrence E. Williams, Alan G. Brady and Christian R. Abee: Squirrel Monkeys, pages 564–578.
  • James R. Anderson and Elisabetta Visalberghi: Capuchin monkeys, pages 579–591.
  • Sarah Wolfensohn: Old World Monkeys, pages 592–617.
  • James F. Turnbull and Iain Berrill: Fish, pages 761–784.

Module 5: The role of the DV in modelling human diseases in animals

• Varga O, Harangi M, Olsson IAS, Hansen AK. Contribution of animal models to the understanding of the metabolic syndrome: a systematic overview. Obesity Reviews 2010; 11:792-807.
• Serreze DV, Chen YG. Of mice and men: use of animal models to identify possible interventions for the prevention of autoimmune type 1 diabetes in humans. Trends Immunol 2005; 26:603-7.
• Mizoguchi A, Mizoguchi E. Inflammatory bowel disease, past, present and future: lessons from animal models. Journal of Gastroenterology 2008; 43:1-17.
• Kollias G, Papadaki P, Apparailly F, Vervoordeldonk MJ, Holmdahl R, Baumans V, et al. Animal models for arthritis: innovative tools for prevention and treatment. AnnRheumDis 2011.
• Hansen K, Khanna C. Spontaneous and genetically engineered animal models; use in preclinical cancer drug development. European journal of cancer 2004; 40:858-80.
• Kalueff AV, Wheaton M, Murphy DL. What's wrong with my mouse model? Advances and strategies in animal modeling of anxiety and depression. Behav Brain Res 2007; 179:1-18.
• Robert C. Hubrecht (Editor) and James Kirkwood (Editor): The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals, 8th Edition, Blackwell-Wiley, 2010
  • Sarah Wolfensohn: Euthanasia and other fates for laboratory animals, pages 219-226.

Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen

Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen.

Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen is one of the initiators and the programme manager of the LabVet Europe programme. He lectures the following course modules:

• Module 1: Legislation
• Module 3A: Animal Care, Management, and Veterinary Communications
• Module 3B: Health
• Module 3C: Genetics and Breeding
• Module 6: Introduction to the Local Environment

His expert areas are Laboratory Animal Science, Laboratory Animal Welfare and Animal Models in Biomedical Research. View Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen’s researcher profile.

Associate Professor Dorte Bratbo Sørensen

Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen.

Associate Professor Dorte Bratbo Sørensen contributes to this programme with her knowledge about Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare. She lectures the following course module:

• Module 2: Ethics, Animal Welfare and the Three Rs

View Associate Professor Dorte Bratbo Sørensen’s researcher profile.

Associate Professor Klas Abelson

Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen.

Associate Professor Klas Abelson contributes to the programme with his knowledge on pain and stress in an animal welfare context. Furthermore, Klas is in charge of different teaching and training activities in Laboratory Animal Science and Experimentation. He lectures the following course module:

• Module 4: Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Surgery

View Associate Professor Klas Abelson’s researcher profile.

Assistant Professor Camilla Hartmann Friis Hansen

Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen.

Assistant Professor Camilla H.F. Hansen’s expert areas are Animal Models of Inflammatory Diseases and external factors contributing to variation in disease expression. She lectures the following course module:

• Module 5: The Role of the DV in Modelling Human Diseases in Animals

 View Assistant Professor Camilla  Hartmann Friis Hansen’s researcher profile.

Upon completion of the LabVet Europe programme, you will have reached the entry level for a Designated Veterinarian as stated in 

• The European Union Directive 2010/63/EU, article no. 25 and the 
• Working document on the development of a common education and training framework to fulfil the requirements under the Directive of 19-20 February 2014.

Having completed the programme, you will be able to:

• Different ethical views on animal experimentation, including the Three Rs principles, as well as principles of good animal welfare and science
• Principles of laboratory animal husbandry including caging systems, environmental conditions, enrichment, hygiene, and occupational health and safety
• Key biological characteristics of relevant species and their importance for the care and use
• Principles for modelling human diseases in animals, including methods for the design of procedures and projects, for the creation and use of genetically altered animals, and for experimental surgery.
• Find the necessary information sources to perform the tasks of the DV
• Kill the relevant animals with the highest respect to both scientific outcomes and animal welfare
• Make routine animal house visits, harm-benefit analysis, health surveillance, strategies for biosecurity and disease outbreak, anaesthesia and pain relief, and relate it to scientific outcome and welfare in animal experiments
• Apply international guidelines for nomenclature on genetic variants of laboratory animals
• Summarise the statutory duties and professional requirements of the DV in relation to staff interactions, the animal welfare body, medicine use, import and export, and transport of laboratory animals , the use of genetically altered animals, and the implementation of the Three Rs
• Explain the importance of good animal health and welfare, and the need for a culture of care and good science