Using animal models in your research
PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE at University of Copenhagen
The course will introduce students to the applications and requirements for the use of a wide range of animal models (both invertebrates and mammals) in research and biotech/pharma. The course will be provided by expert lectures by research groups at UCPH and industrial partners with a focus on how each animal model is used in hypothesis-driven research, the future of animal research, industrial applications and potential human translational research.
The model systems covered and industrial partners during the course vary from year to year depending on instructors’ availability; these models may include, mouse, pig, Drosophila melanogaster, marine invertebrates, jellyfish, etc...
Themes may include gut-brain axis, behavior, stem cell biology, immunology, cancer, metabolic regulation, genomics and comparative morphology.
Finally, a discussion on emerging models, ethics, technologies (e.g., CRISPR, organoids) with a focus on transgenic animals will be included.
The course outlines the basis for using animals as model organisms and characterizes the qualities and properties of using whole-organism animal models in comparison to alternatives. Students will not be expected to have mastered these organisms and topics by the end of the course, but we intend to provide – and students will be expected to exhibit – the following general knowledge bases, skills, and competencies.
Formel requirements
General Molecular Biology/Almen molekylærbiologi or an equivalent course.
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
The suitability of different models for different scientific topics and methods of investigation in relation to alternatives,
The different animal models, their biological and scientific properties, and their use in different contexts,
The most commonly used “core” tools and techniques used within these model systems,
Skills:
Understand the general use of different model-organism systems and to learn about unfamiliar methods and techniques,
Explain limitations and strengths of each animal model in comparison to alternatives,
Read, understand, and present the assigned primary literature (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles).
Competences:
Reflect on and select an appropriate animal model based on a given problem/research question,
Propose experiments to test models and questions raised in research on model organisms,
Communicate verbally and in writing how research-based animal experimentation studies are conducted and how their results are interpreted (primary literature).
Literature
The teaching material will consist of lecture slides, and hand-outs, primary literature, and limited selected material copied from textbooks (there is not one book that includes the topics that will be covered in the course).
Target group
The course will introduce to any PhD students interested in the application and requirements for the use of a wide range of animal models in research and biotech/pharma.
The course will be provided in English by expert lectures by research groups at SCIENCE and industrial partners with a focus on how each animal model is used in hypothesis-driven research, the future of animal research, industrial applications, and potential human translational research.
Teaching and learning methods
The course will consist of theoretical background lectures, expert presentations on research and industrial applications. Instructors will give introductory lectures and assign background reading and literature/project presentations for their class segment. Through these lectures, informal discussion, reading and student presentation of literature, students will learn about the featured model systems. The students will visit laboratory animal housing facilities, including the rodent facility at August Krogh Building and Drosophila labs at the Department of Biology.
Lecturers
We aim to invite speakers from companies like Novo Nordisk, Gubra, Lundbeck and Leo Pharma to present how animal models are used in their research departments with the additional aim of creating opportunities for students to interact with company representatives.
Remarks
HOW TO APPLY
The application procedure is described below. Please note that applying for the course does not guarantee you a place. You will be notified shortly after the course application deadline (or earlier) about whether your have got a place.
To apply for the course, you need to do two things:
1) Apply via the university platform by clicking on 'Apply' above.
2) Also send an email to julien.colombani@bio.ku.dk with the following information:
• Your academic level (for example PhD student, postdoc, Master student, etc.)
• The topic of your PhD (or other research if you are not a PhD student)
• Dietary preferences (For example ‘vegan’, ‘vegetarian’, ‘gluten-free’, etc.)
• Your experience with animal models
No fee course.
No-show and cancellation policy:
- Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge.
- Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged an amount corresponding to the course fee for external participants.
- Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged an amount equal to the course fee for external participants.
- No-show will result in a fee equal to the course fee for external participants.
- Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged an amount equal to the course fee for external participants.