Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee 

Training

All staff and students caring for, and using live vertebrates for scientific purposes at NUS must be educated, trained and qualified to use animals in a humane and ethical manner.

The following training courses meet the requirements for training as set forth in the NACLAR Guidelines.

1. Responsible Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (RCULA) conducted by Comparative Medicine (CM), for the use of common laboratory mammals, and

2. Responsible Care and Use of Fish (RCUF) conducted by CM and Department of Biological Sciences, for the use of fish for scientific purposes.

These training courses will give personnel a general understanding on the regulations and the responsibility in using animals for scientific purposes. Successful participants will be awarded certificates, the serial number of which will be required when submitting protocols for IACUC review.

Responsible Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (RCULA)
This course consists of a General Lecture Programme and a Species Specific Training (including lectures) Programme.

 

General lecture Programme @ CeLS Audiorium

8:45 - 9.15am Registration and Introduction
9:15- 9.45 am Biomedical Research Regulations, NACLAR Guidelines and You
9:45 - 10.15am The IACUC - Responsibilities, Functions and Guidelines on completing the IACUC Application forms
10.15am Q and A
10.25am Coffee Break
10:45 - 11.20am Occupational Health and Safety in Animal Research
11:20 - 11.55 am The 3 R's, Ethical Responsibilities of a Researchers and the Use of Alternatives
11:55 - 12.15pm CM Barrier Policies and Procedures
12:15 - 12.40pm CM "Bio-containment Procedures"
12:40pm Briefing on Walk through procedures, Q&A Session and sign out
12.45pm Sign Out

 

Species Specific Training Progarmme @ MD 2 Vivarium

The Species Specific Training Programme is conducted in the afternoon of Day 1 and the whole of Day 2 for participants of RCULA only. The species used include mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig and pig. Training (with lectures) on animal use and aseptic surgery includes:

1. Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Recognising Pain

2. Animal Handling & Blood Collection

3. Introduction to Surgery, Post-operation Care and Euthanasia and

4. Animal Disease and Diagnosis and Hands-on practical
Responsible Care and Use of Fish for Scientific Purposes (RCUF)
The course consists of a half-day lecture and a half-day hands-on exercise conducted over 1 day. The lecture and hands-on exercise session are conducted at Department of Biological Sciences Block S2, Level 3, LS Lab 7 The practical session is limited to 24 participants.

 

Day 1 Lectures (morning)

9:00 am Registration
9:15 am Welcome address
9:15 - 10:15 am General Priciples of Fish Care and Use
10:15 - 10:45 am Basic Fish Anaesthesia and analgesia recognizing Pain and  Distress
10:45 - 11.15am Coffee Break
11:15 - 12:00 pm Zebrafish and Medaka as Research Models
12:00 - 1:30 pm  - Introduction to Surgery and Post-operative Care

 - Humane Endpoints and Methods of Euthanasia

 - Fish Diseases and zoonoses
12:30 -  1.30 pm Lunch Break

 

Day 1 Hands-on session (afternoon)

1:30 - 5.30pm
  •  Fish handling Techniques
  • - Capture
  • -Anaesthesia
  • - Length and Weight Measurement
  • - Injection Techniques
  • - Blood collection
  • - Tagging and Marking
  • - Embryo Handling (for breeding)
  • - Transportation
  • - Surgery
  • - Routine Fish Treatment
  • - Euthanasia

Note: Participants are advised to come with long-sleeved lab coat for practical sessions.

Day 2 Lectures : This is the same General lecture Programme @ CeLS Audiorium for RCULA Training Programme. Note that participants for RCUF my attend this lecture prior to the Day 1 Lectures and Hands-on sesson.
Fees
A nominal fee will be charged to cover lecture notes, refreshments, certificate, animals and consumable items used.

 

RCULA    
  For NUS staff and students For non-NUS staff and students
Lectures S$50.00 S$80 plus GST
Each species specific session S$50 (includes re-training sessions) S$80 plus GST

 

Example: If a participant wanted training only in mice, he/she would pay S$50 for lectures plus S$50 for mice session. The charge for species specific sessions includes costs for re-training should a researcher request or require that. After attending species specific training on mice, if researchers need to use rabbits in future, they are required to attend the next course on species specific training on rabbits. A separate charge of S$50 is applicable.

RCUF    
  For NUS staff and students For non-NUS staff and students
Lecture (same as RCULA) S$50 S$80 plus GST
Hands-on S$100 S$150 plus GST

 
Registration and Enquiries

Please submit the application form via email to rcula@nus.edu.sg For all general enquiries, please contact Ms Koh Ser Hwee via  phone: 65165905.

RCULA FAQ
Schedule of RCULA training 2012
 
  69th RCULA 70th RCULA 71st RCULA 72nd RCULA 73rd RCULA 74th RCULA
Lecture 18th Jan 12 morning 15th Feb 12 morning 21st Mar 12 morning 18th Apr 12 morning  16th May 12 morning 20th Jun 12 morning
Mice Hands-on 18th Jan 12

afternoon

 15th Feb 12 afternoon 21st Mar 12 afternoon 18th Apr 12 afternoon 16th May 12 afternoon 20th Jun 12 afternoon
Rats Hands-on 19th Jan 12 morning 16th Feb 12 morning 22nd Mar 12 morning 19th Apr 12 morning 17th May 12 morning 21st Jun 12 morning
Aseptic Surgery 19th Jan 12 afternoon 16th Feb 12 afternoon 22nd Mar 12 afternoon 19th Apr 12 afternoon 17th May 12 afternoon 21st Jun 12 afternoon
Rabbit Hands-on 20th Jan 12 morning  - 23rd Mar 12 morning  - 18th May 12 morning  -
 Pigs 20th Jan 12 morning  - 23rd Mar 12 morning  - 18th May 12 morning  -
Guinea Pigs 20th Jan 12 afternoon  - 23rd Mar 12 afternoon  - 18th May 12 afternoon  -

 

  75th RCULA 76th RCULA 77th RCULA 78th RCULA 79th RCULA
Lecture 18th Jul 12 morning 15th Aug 12 morning 19th Sep 12 morning 17th Oct 12 morning 21st Nov 12 morning
Mice Hands-on 18th Jul 12 afternoon 15th Aug 12 afternoon 19th Sep 12 afternoon 17th Oct 12 afternoon 21st Nov 12 afternoon
Rats Hands-on 19th Jul 12 morning 16th Aug 12 morning 20th  Sep 12 morning 18th Oct 12 morning 22nd Nov 12 morning
Aseptic Surgery 19th Jul 12 afternoon 16th Aug 12 afternoon 20th  Sep 12 afternoon 18th Oct 12 afternoon 22nd Nov 12 afternoon
Rabbit Hands-on 20th Jul 12 morning  - 21st  Sep 12 morning  - 23rd Nov 12 morning
 Pigs 20th Jul 12 morning  - 21st Sep 12 morning  - 23rd Nov 12 morning
 Guinea Pigs 20th Jul 12 afternoon  - 21st Sep 12 afternoon  - 23rd Nov 12 afternoon

 Note:

 RCULA Hands-on sessions:

 Morning:9:00am to 1:00pm

 Afternoon: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Schedule of RCUF training 2012
13th Responsible Care & Use of Fish for Scientific Purposes

- TBA