B8432 - Anatomy of Laboratory Animals and Bioethics

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student gains foundational knowledge and practical skills in biomedical research involving laboratory animals, emphasising ethical principles, the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), and the Culture of Care. In particular, the student: understands the principles of biomedical research and the rationale for using laboratory animals; identifies key laboratory species and evaluates how their anatomy and traits influence experimental outcomes; demonstrates skills in handling, care, and welfare of laboratory animals, ensuring ethical and responsible practices.

Course contents

This course is part of the Integrated Course “Pharmacology, Toxicology, Anaesthesiology, Laboratory Animals, and Bioethics”.

The integrated course aims to provide the student with adequate knowledge of veterinary pharmacology and toxicology, the responsible use of drugs, and the development and application of a balanced anaesthetic protocol in veterinary species. Additionally, the student gains expertise in the fundamental principles of biomedical research, including anatomy, physiology, breeding, and welfare of laboratory animals, in compliance with the Culture of Care and the 3Rs.

The Integrated Course "Pharmacology, toxicology, anaesthesiology, laboratory animals and bioethics" contributes to the achievement of the following ESEVT Day One Competences: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.12, 1.17, 1.21, 1.26, 1.27, 1.31, 1.32

 

The syllabus is structured as follows:

Lectures:

Introduction to animal experimentation in biomedical research

Historical overview and current role of laboratory animals in the biomedical field.

Ethical principles and legislative frameworks: overview of the ethical considerations in animal research, focusing on welfare and humane treatment.

Comparative anatomy of laboratory animals: study of the anatomy of key species used in research, including rodents, lagomorphs, swine, and non-human primates (NHPs).

Techniques for handling and caring for laboratory animals

The Principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement): exploration of the principles and their application in experimental design to achieve ethical and efficient research outcomes.

Examples of replacement techniques (e.g., in vitro models), reduction strategies (e.g., optimized statistical methods), and refinement approaches (e.g., pain management).

Practical Sessions:

Hands-on sessions focused on anatomical identification, handling techniques, and welfare assessments.

Guided analysis of case studies to illustrate the implementation of ethical principles and best practices.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ):

Supplementary reading:

Ruberte J, Carretero A, Navarro M. Morphological Mouse Phenotyping: Anatomy, Histology and Imaging. Academic Press; 2017. Accessed November 14, 2024.

National Research Council (US) Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 8th ed. Washington (DC): National Academies Press; 2011. https://doi.org/10.17226/12910

Teaching methods

The course includes both theoretical lectures and practical/laboratory sessions. 

Attendance at lectures and practical classes is compulsory, as required by the relevant regulations. Students must attend at least 60% of the scheduled hours. Absences of up to 40% of the total scheduled hours are permitted. Attendance will be recorded and certified through the rps.unibo.it [https://liveunibo-my.sharepoint.com/personal/luca_lorenzini8_unibo_it/Documents/Desktop/GUIDE%20WEB/PHARMACOLOGY,%20TOXICOLOGY,%20ANAESTHESIOLOGY,%20LABORATORY%20ANIMALS,%20AND%20BIOETHICS%20(I.C.)/rps.unibo.it] platform.

Considering the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, attendance for this course requires the successful completion of Modules 1, 2 and 3 via e-learning. Information about the schedule and access to Module 3 is available in the dedicated section of the Degree Program website.

Participation in practical and laboratory sessions requires wearing a lab coat and appropriate footwear. Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), such as disposable latex gloves, will be provided as needed.

Assessment methods

To be eligible to sit the examination, students must have passed and officially registered the prerequisite course units specified in the Degree Programme Regulations, available here [https://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/VeterinaryMedicine/course-structure-diagram/vet-med-propedeuticita_13gen2026-1.pdf/@@download/file/Vet%20Med%20course%20prerequisites.pdf] .

The assessment for the Integrated Course “Pharmacology, Toxicology, Anaesthesiology, Laboratory Animals, and Bioethics” consists of two parts:

• First part: an Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) comprising three stations, designed to assess specific practical skills in anaesthesiology and pharmacology. The time allotted varies by station and will be specified at the beginning of each station. Each station is worth a maximum of 1 point. A minimum score of 0.5 points in each station is required to pass the OSPE and be admitted to the second part of the examination. The OSPE score will be communicated to the student immediately after completion of the examination.
• Second part: a 90-minute written examination consisting of 60 multiple-choice and short-answer questions covering all topics included in the component courses of the Integrated Course and designed to assess students’ comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter. The questions are distributed as follows: 6 questions on Course B8432, 6 on Course B8450, 12 on Course B8430, 24 on Course B8452, and 12 on Course B8453. Each correct answer is worth 0.5 points. No points are deducted for incorrect or unanswered questions.

To pass the written examination, students must obtain at least 7 correct answers out of the 12 questions relating to Courses B8432 and B8450 combined, at least 7 out of 12 for Course B8430, at least 15 out of 24 for Course B8452, and at least 7 out of 12 for Course B8453.

The results of the written examination will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en) by the designated course contact within five working days. If a student does not pass the written examination, both the OSPE and the written examination must be retaken.

No supplementary materials or electronic devices, including calculators, tablets, smartwatches, and computers, may be used during the examination unless explicitly authorised by the examiner. The use of AI tools during the assessment is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

The final grade is determined by the sum of the scores obtained in the two parts of the examination. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required to pass the examination. Unsuccessful examination attempts are not assigned a numerical grade but are recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic record on AlmaEsami and do not affect the student’s academic record.

The final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ) within five working days of the date of the examination.

Students may reject the final grade once by informing the designated course contact via email within five working days of its publication.

The designated course contact for this course is Prof. Andrea Barbarossa.

Students may register for examinations through the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ). Examination sessions are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available to students beyond the standard duration of the Degree Programme.

Students with specific learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities are invited to contact the relevant University office as early as possible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ). Requests for examination accommodations must be submitted to the lecturer at least 15 days before the examination date. The lecturer will assess the appropriateness of the proposed accommodations, taking into account the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

The course employs a combination of teaching resources to support student learning, including PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, dedicated software for the study of laboratory animal anatomy, and interactive in-class quizzes.

These tools are designed to facilitate the understanding of anatomical concepts, comparative anatomy, and bioethical principles related to the use of laboratory animals, while promoting active student participation and self-assessment.

 

In case of difficulty understanding the course content, the instructor is available for clarification meetings, which must be scheduled via email.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Lorenzini