Experimental Surgery II – Advanced techniques and microsurgery
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Describe and understand the application of surgical, microsurgical and other techniques used in model induction and sampling in small laboratory animals
2. Understand the importance of correct handling of instruments and tissue during surgery for a successful experiment.
3. Apply basic microsurgical techniques and suturing in live laboratory rodents
4. independently take responsibility to implement and further develop practical skills in the performance of advanced experimental surgery and microsurgery
Content
The participants will be taught basic microsurgery, including microsurgical instruments, ergonomics and a number of different microsurgical standard techniques such as catheterization and anastomoses, through theoretical and practical teaching. The course will further give the participants an increased and broader knowledge and experience in various advanced experimental techniques on laboratory animals, through demonstrations of methodology applied in relation to animal modeling, as well as practical sessions including surgical and other invasive or non-invasive techniques applied for animal model induction and sampling.
Participants
PhD-students, postgraduate scientists and technicians who are performing animal experimental procedures, who intend to increase their knowledge and experience in microsurgical techniques and advanced laboratory animal experimentation. Participants should have passed a course in laboratory animal science for at least functions A and D according to Directive 2010/63/EU, Article 23.2 (formerly FELASA C or B courses) or have similar qualifications. Besides, participants should have documented knowledge and experience in basic experimental surgery, use of aseptic techniques and adequate anaesthesia and analgesia in small laboratory animals (preferably the course Experimental Surgery I – Basic principles and procedures).
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
Lectures, demonstrations and hands-on practicals. (Approximately 80% of the course is practical work).
Course director
Klas Abelson, Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, klasab@sund.ku.dk
Teachers
Each session will be covered by scientists, veterinarians, microsurgeons and technicians, all highly qualified and experts within in their specific field.
Dates
17-21 November 2025
Course location
Department of Experimental Medicine, Frederiksberg Campus
Registration
Please register before 24 October 2025
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.