Susan WilsonSanders

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VSC 443/543 Research Animal Methods 2008

• Susan Wilson-Sanders
• Coordinator

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Purpose

• Research Animal Methods focuses on the humane
  care and use of animals in research settings.
• We will discuss regulatory issues related to
  animal research, the process of research
  involving animals, use of animal models, and the
  biology, husbandry and diseases of different
  laboratory animal species.

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Instructors

• Instructors for the course are from the
  Departments of University Animal Care, Veterinary
  Science/ Microbiology and others.
• Susan E. Wilson-Sanders, D.V.M., M.S., 626-1066,
  wilson-s_at_u.arizona.edu, AHSC 1130
• Office hours by appointmentwill meet you either
  at VSC/MI or the CAF

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Course Materials

• No text
• Class notes on-line at
• http//www.uac.arizona.edu/VSC443/Home/MIC443Inde
  x.shtml
• Other materials distributed in class
• Selected readings from scientific journals
  

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Assignment 1Protocol Due

• 9/5/08 May work in teams of 2

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Research PaperSection 443

• Beginning in September and through the remainder
  of the semester, section. Undergraduate students,
  and those enrolled in the 443 section, will each
  select a disease condition in humans or animals
  they wish to study. Students will perform a
  literature search utilizing one or more
  scientific databases and find articles in
  scientific journals from which to develop a
  review article.

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Research Paper 443 Content

• INTRODUCTION The introduction of the paper will
  provide background information on the disease or
  condition. This portion of the paper will be 2-3
  pages long.
• USE OF ANIMAL MODELS In this section, the use of
  animal models to study the disease or condition
  will be given. This portion of the paper will be
  2-3 pages long.
• USE OF ALTERNATIVE MODELS In this section,
  students will describe what types of studies
  utilizing alternatives to live animal
  experimentation have been useful in the study of
  the disease or condition. (1-2 pages)

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• DISCUSSION In this section, students will 1)
  provide a summary of the research, 2) indicate
  needs for additional studies that would help
  understand, prevent, and treat the disease and 3)
  provide ideas for specific studies that might be
  done, utilizing animals or alternatives. (1
  page)
• REFERENCES All articles utilized in the paper
  will be listed in this section. At least 8
  original articles from the scientific literature
  (i.e. not textbooks or non-refereed articles)
  should be included.

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VSC 543

• Graduate students and those enrolled in the 543
  section will be working on a different research
  project, which will include writing a research
  paper in the format of a research grant proposal
  and completing an animal protocol based on the
  proposed research. The paper format will be
  similar to a typical research grant application
  and will include abstract, introduction
  (literature review/preliminary data), research
  plan (specific aims/experimental design/materials
  and methods), expected results, and reference
  sections.

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VSC 543

• Students will choose a biomedical or
  animal/veterinary science problem, perform a
  scientific literature search to choose an
  appropriate animal model, develop a hypothesis
  and specific aims, design the materials and
  methods for the study, and based on the
  literature, provide expected results. The overall
  length of the completed grant proposal should be
  8-10 pages, excluding references. Additionally,
  an animal care and use protocol will be developed
  for review by the IACUC.

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Paper/Protocol

• Done in three phases
• Topic and Literature Search/Format due (25
  points) Due 10/1/08
• Introduction and Research Plan (if applicable) of
  Final Paper (25 points) Due 11/12/08
• Final Paper and Protocol Due (to those
  applicable) 12/3/08

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Examinations

• Three formal examinations Take home.
• Final Exam comprehensive final exam on 12/15/08
  from 11 AM-1 PM in VSC 129

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Homework and class activities

• There will be five or more homework or in-class
  assignments.

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Graduate and Honors students

• Additional work required
• Serve as the IACUC Primary Reviewer for one or
  more protocols
• Attend one IACUC meeting
• The presentation and accompanying written
  assignment will count for 1/6 of the
  graduate/honors student's final grade.

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Academic Integrity

• Learn what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
• Info on our website.
• Papers may be checked for plagiarism.
• Plagiarism will result in loss of credit for the
  assignment.
• Further plagiarism or other violations can lead
  to further disciplinary action up to and
  including expulsion from the University.
• Become familiar with UA Policies found at
• http//dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/

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Classroom Behavior

• Cell phones/pagersoff or silence mode.
• Disruptive behavior in class, including passing
  notes and talking when the instructor is
  lecturing, student will be told to leave class.
• Threatening behavior UAPD will be called and
  student(s) removed from class. Code of Conduct
  disciplinary action will follow.

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Listserv

• Research Scoop
• Info for class distributed
• Contact instructors or students