This course covers ethical, theoretical and practical aspects of pain and pain relief in animal experimentation.
Procedures on animals for scientific purposes may cause discomfort, distress, pain or lasting harm to the animals. From an ethical point of view, this is highly problematic. With regards to animal welfare, the experimenter is therefore obliged to avoid pain in experimental animals or reduce it as much as possible. This is in accordance with the basic ethical principles for animal research, the principles of the 3Rs, where "Refinement" prescribes that animal experiments must always be carried out in the most lenient possible way, amongst other methods by avoiding or reducing pain.
Hence, avoiding pain in animal experimentation is essential, but to do so, it is essential to understand the mechanisms of pain and how pain can be properly recognized and assessed.
The course aims to give the participants an insight into the mechanism behind pain; in which situations pain can occur; and how one can prevent or reduce pain by using a correct study design, applying the most proper research techniques, and use a relevant strategy for pain relief treatment.
Pain Management in Animal Research: Ethical and Practical Aspects – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)