Further training opportunities

As an animal researcher, animal caretaker or animal technician, there are several ways you can make sure you are up-to-date in animal research. That means you immerse yourself in the design of animal experiments and how to improve their quality. You delve into the validity of the models you use. You look for and experiment with refinements to your measurement methods that make them less onerous, or look for alternatives. Important sources are laboratory animal associations (in the Netherlands DALAS) and 3Rs centres, but it can also be your substantive professional association (especially for researchers).

We have listed the simplest and most familiar ways below:

Online modules (usually free):

• Modules op het Education and Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science (ETPLAS)
  Reiterate and deepen especially the European learning objectives as also taught in laboratory animal science (including Experimental Design). Free upon registration and upon completion of the e-module, you will receive a certificate.

• E-Learnings van het consortium van Enhancing Quality in Preclinical Data (EQIPD)
  Focused on the quality of animal experiments.

Materials, Workshops and Webinars from active laboratory animal societies or 3V centers:

• NORECOPA, Norway's national 3R consensus platform
  This platform collects all information around laboratory animal science and the 3Rs where there is an agreement (consensus) among experts.  It also lists education and training opportunities in lifelong learning. This institute has issued the PREPARE-guideline, on the website you can also find a further explanation of it. Deepening these guidelines you may count (without a certificate). After that, regular application no longer counts as professional development. You can also find a further explanation on their website. You may take the in-depth study in these guidelines (without certificate). After that, regular application no longer counts as professional advancement.

• NC3Rs, het Britse 3V platform
  Contains many different sources of information on animal experimental research. They have published the ARRIVE guideline, as well as the experimental design assisstant (EDA). You may count the time you take to study guidelines and apply them for the first time (without a certificate). After that, the regular application or use of ARRIVE or the EDA does not count as professional development.

• 3Rs Centre Utrecht
  3Rs development, close to home. This centre monitors and stimulates a lot of innovation when it comes to New Approach Methods (NAMs) and the transition to animal-free (xenofree) research. Participation in the activities of this centre counts as expertise enhancement.

• DALAS
  This is the Dutch professional association for everyone involved in animal testing or laboratory animals. There are various activities such as theme days and an annual congress, and DALAS is also involved in lectures with NCad. They also host a number of courses and training sessions. Finally, DALAS also has its own journal (Biotechniek) and an online exchange platform MyDALAS (for members only). Participation in DALAS' activities counts as expertise enhancement.

• FELASA
  The Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations. All activities of this association and of affiliated national associations (including DALAS) are considered potentially relevant. FELASA organises a triennial laboratory animal science congress, but there are also working groups. Participation in the congress or sitting in a working group count as promotion of expertise.

• Humane eindpunten-website
  This website teaches you about monitoring the welfare of laboratory animals and identifying humane endpoints. There are e-learning modules that can be taken as preparation for practical training. This website does require registration.

Participation in laboratory animal science networks or working groups:

• NC3rs Netwerk HUB.
  Networks have been set up to exchange laboratory animal science improvements within subject areas. This is hosted by NC3Rs in the UK. You can register some hours of your efforts as expertise enhancement.

Journal clubs with articles from experimental animal science journals such as:

• LabAnimal
• Laboratory Animals
• Biotechniek (Via MyDalas)

Activities of the Animal Welfare Body Utrecht:

• The Animal Welfare Body Utrecht sometimes develops activities to roll out targeted new developments in the field, within the framework of the 3Rs. Attending these activities counts as the promotion of expertise. The AWB assumes that everyone attends the start meeting ‘conducting animal experiments in Utrecht' and also organises regular tours of various departments, known as the 'Tour d'IvD'. Participation in the Tour d'IvD and the start meeting are certified meetings. 

Courses from organizations (usually paid):

• Responsible research in practice
  An organisation that helps you conduct robust and reliable research. Is broader than animal research, but very familiar with it. They also give free webinars.

• René Remie Surgical Skills Centre
  Company that mainly trains in microsurgery, leading in the Netherlands. You can follow skills training here, but as you often also receive substantive training, you can claim part of the hours as expertise training.