Faculty of Science

Using Animal Models in Your Research
Provider: Faculty of Science

Activity no.: 5144-25-00-00	There are 30 available seats
	Enrollment deadline: 10/10/2025

Place

Department of Biology

Date and time

27.10.2025, at: 08:00 - 31.10.2025, at: 16:00

Regular seats

ECTS credits

2.50

Contact person

Julien Colombani E-mail address: julien.colombani@bio.ku.dk

Enrolment Handling/Course Organiser

PhD Administration SCIENCE E-mail address: phdcourses@science.ku.dk

Written language

English

Teaching language

English

Course workload

Course workload category	Hours
Preparation	35.00
Lectures	12.00
Laboratory	4.00
Practical exercises	18.00

Sum	69.00

Enrolment guidelines

The course will introduce students to the applications and requirements for the use of a wide range of animal models (both invertebrates and mammals) in research and biotech/pharma. he course will be provided by expert lectures by research groups at UCPH and industrial partners with a focus on how each animal model is used in hypothesis-driven research, the future of animal research, industrial applications and potential human translational research.The model systems covered and industrial partners during the course vary from year to year depending on instructors’ availability; these models may include, mouse, pig, Drosophila melanogaster, marine invertebrates, jellyfish, etc.Themes may include gut-brain axis, behavior, stem cell biology, immunology, cancer, metabolic regulation, genomics and comparative morphology. Finally, a discussion on emerging models, ethics, technologies (e.g., CRISPR, organoids) with a focus on transgenic animals will be included.The course outlines the basis for using animals as model organisms and characterizes the qualities and properties of using whole-organism animal models in comparison to alternatives. Students will not be expected to have mastered these organisms and topics by the end of the course, but we intend to provide – and students will be expected to exhibit – the following general knowledge bases, skills, and competencies.

Formal requirements

General Molecular Biology/Almen molekylærbiologi or an equivalent course.

Learning outcome

KNOWLEDGE. The suitability of different models for different scientific topics and methods of investigation in relation to alternatives. The different animal models, their biological and scientific properties, and their use in different contexts. The most commonly used tools and techniques used within these model systems, SKILLS: Understanding the general use of different model-organism systems and to learn about unfamiliar methods and techniques. Explaining limitations and strengths of each animal model in comparison to alternatives. Reading, understanding, and presenting the assigned primary literature (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles). COMPETENCES: Reflecting on and selecting an appropriate animal model based on a given problem/research question. Proposing experiments to test models and questions raised in research on model organisms, Communicating verbally and in writing how research-based animal experimentation studies are conducted and how their results are interpreted (primary literature)

Literature

The teaching material will consist of lecture slides, and hand-outs, primary literature, and limited selected material copied from textbooks (there is not one book that includes the topics that will be covered in the course).

Target group

The course will introduce to any PhD students interested in the application and requirements for the use of a wide range of animal models in research and biotech/pharma.
The course will be provided in English by expert lectures by research groups at SCIENCE and industrial partners with a focus on how each animal model is used in hypothesis-driven research, the future of animal research, industrial applications, and potential human translational research.

Lecturers

Industrial partners
• Nina Sonne, Gubra, Pharmacology research in obesity and diabetes model, both mice and rats.

• Carlos Henriquez-Olguin, Novo Nordisk, Skeletal Muscle Biology Department, 3D in vitro model.

• Maiken Højgaard Pedersen, Novo Nordisk, In vivo pharmacology, rodent models of diabetes.

• Cathrine Juel Bundgaard, Novo Nordisk, Veterinarian and Department Manager Animal Unit.

Guest lectures
• Lisbeth Høier Olsen and Anders Brunse, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Using dog and pig models for research, visit a the pig facility at Frederiksberg Campus.

• Tina Vicky Alstrup Hansen and Line Elnif Thomsen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, C.elegans as a screening tool.

• The Danish 3R-Center, Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, alternatives to animal testing and on creating better conditions for laboratory animals.

Contributors from UCPH, Faculty of Science,
• Jakob Knudsen (Department of Biology) Visit of the mouse facility at August Krogh building

• Julien Colombani (Department of Biology) Visit of the drosophila facility at the department of Biology

• Ditte S. Andersen (Department of Biology)

• Alice Rouan, Shoyo Sato and Meghan Yap-Chiongco (Department of Biology)

Remarks

HOW TO APPLY

Please note that applying for the course does not guarantee you to be accepted for the course. You will be notified shortly after the course application deadline (or earlier).

To apply for the course, please take action on the following;

1) Apply via the course university platform by clicking on 'Apply' above in the upper right corner

2) Send an email to course responsible julien.colombani@bio.ku.dk with the following information:

> Your academic level (e.g. PhD student, Postdoc, Master student, )
> The topic of your PhD (or other research if you are not a PhD student)
> Special dietary preferences (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free)
> Your experience with animal models

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