Novel technologies and laboratory animals in behavioral neuroscience

After completing the course the student is expected to:

Molecular-genetic techniques in neurosciences 

Knowledge

• explain the most common used viral vectors used in neuroscience and their main properties
• explain the most common components comprising a viral vector
• explain the main tools applied to monitor or manipulate brain functions
• explain the principles behind molecular-genetic techniques and approaches used in animal models of behavioral neuroscience
• explain the theoretical background and the future perspective of gene therapy in a clinical setting

Skills

• critically evaluate projects and research results where molecular-genetically encoded tools or gene therapy are used in brain research
• choose, apply and evaluate techniques aiming at regulation or editing of genes and gene expression used in brain research
• choose, apply and evaluate molecular-genetic techniques aiming at monitoring or manipulating brain function in desired brain regions, cell types, and/or neuronal projections

Competencies

• understand the present opportunities, problems and limitations using new molecular-genetically encoded tools in neuroscience
• apply theoretical and technical knowledge in understanding and evaluating principles when using molecular-genetically encoded tools
• understand the present opportunities and challenges of gene therapy for neurological disorders

Laboratory Animal Science Function A/D

Knowledge 

• understand that animal experimentation is complicated and requires current training to secure the well-being of the animals and the scientific outcome 
• explain the biological basis of laboratory animal breeding and maintenance, housing and management including basic genetics and reproduction, health monitoring, housing and handling (pre-, intra and post-procedural)
• explain the legal basis for animal experimentation 
• explain and critically evaluate the scientific methods applied within animal experimentation including blood sampling, injections, principles for drug-development and testing, anesthesia and analgesia and evaluation of pain- and stress related behavior in laboratory animals 
• discuss the basic biology of laboratory animals including behavioral and physiological needs

Skills

• organize self-training on handling and procedures in the most common laboratory animals 
• discuss and evaluate the basic principles on how to use animals for research 
• discuss and evaluate principles of procedures on their future experiments 
• discuss, evaluate and argue about the ethical basis for the use of animals for research 
• handle, do minor procedures and kill rodents for research at a level sufficient to fulfill learning outcomes 3.2.1. , 8.1. , 8.2.,  8.3. , 6.2.1. , and  6.2.2. of the EU Guidance Paper  (  http:/​/​ec.europa.eu/​environment/​chemicals/​lab_animals/​pdf/​guidance/​education_training/​en.pdf)

Competencies

• independently take responsibility to implement and further develop practical skills in handling of common rodents used for research
• independently take responsibility to implement and further develop practical skills in the performance of basic animal experiments 
• perform animal experimentation within the European Union according to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU Article 23.2a and the ”Danish executive order 12 of 07/01/2016 §57” .