Faculty of Science

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Using animal models in your research
Provider: Faculty of Science

Activity no.: 5144-27-00-00	There are 15 available seats
	Enrollment deadline: 08/03/2027

Place	Department of Biology
Date and time	April 2027
Regular seats	15
Lecturers	Ditte Skovaa Andersen Julien Colombani
ECTS credits	2.50

Contact person	Ditte Skovaa Andersen E-mail address: ditte.andersen@bio.ku.dk

Enrolment Handling/Course Organiser	PhD Administration SCIENCE E-mail address: phdcourses@science.ku.dk

Enrolment guidelines NB. The course duration is one week during April 2027 (estimated 19.04-23.04.2027) . Final course dates will be published after confirmation by course coordinators. *************************************************************************************************** This is a toolbox course where 80% of the seats are reserved for PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 20% of the seats are reserved for PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS). Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university (except CBS), you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list. Aim and Content Biological research is conducted in a diverse array of organisms, because every experimental approach has its own requirements, and every organism used in research offers the experimenter a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. As stated by August Krogh, “for a large number of problems, there will be some [system] of choice in which it can be most conveniently studied”. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to different biological model systems, to provide a general understanding of why and in what contexts experimental animal models are used in research and industry, and examples of their applications. 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. The 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, organoids, 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, technologies (e.g., CRISPR, organoids) with a focus on transgenic animals will be included. Learning outcomes** 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. Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course: 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 “core” tools and techniques used within these model systems, Skills: • Understand the general use of different model-organism systems and to learn about unfamiliar methods and techniques, • Explain limitations and strengths of each animal model in comparison to alternatives, • Read, understand, and present the assigned primary literature (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles). Competences: • Reflect on and select an appropriate animal model based on a given problem/research question, • Propose experiments to test models and questions raised in research on model organisms, • Communicate verbally and in writing how research-based animal experimentation studies are conducted and how their results are interpreted (primary literature). 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. Recommended Academic Qualifications General Molecular Biology/Almen molekylærbiologi or an equivalent course. Research Area Biological research is conducted in a diverse array of organisms, because every experimental approach has its own requirements, and every organism used in research offers the experimenter a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. As stated by August Krogh, “for a large number of problems, there will be some [system] of choice in which it can be most conveniently studied”. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to different biological model systems, to provide a general understanding of why and in what contexts experimental animal models are used in research and industry, and examples of their applications. Teaching and Learning Methods The course will consist of theoretical background lectures, expert presentations on research and industrial applications. Instructors will give introductory lectures and assign background reading and literature/project presentations for their class segment. Through these lectures, informal discussion, reading and student presentation of literature, students will learn about the featured model systems. The students will visit at least the rodent facility at August Krogh Building and Drosophila labs at the Department of Biology. Type of Assessment Continuous assessment. The evaluation is based on the students' performance in the exercises, including participation in discussions and presentations. All aids allowed. Marking scale: Passed/not passed. Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course. Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory assignments cannot pass the course 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). Course coordinators Ditte S. Andersen & Julien Colombani, Associate Professors, ditte.andersen@bio.ku.dk, julien.colombani@bio.ku.dk, phone +45 27847666 Guest Lecturers Contributors from KU: Jakob Knudsen Kim Rewitz Katrine Worsaae Julien Colombani (Co-coordinator and contact) Ditte S. Andersen (Coordinator) Brian Fredensborg and industrial partners to be defined Expected frequency One course every 18/24 months Course location University of Copenhagen, Course fee and participant fee PhD courses offered at the Faculty of SCIENCE have course fees corresponding to different participant types. In addition to the course fee, there might also be a participant fee. If the course has a participant fee, this will apply to all participants regardless of participant type - and in addition to the course fee. Course fee • Participant fee: DKK 0 • PhD student enrolled at SCIENCE: DKK 0 • PhD student from Danish PhD school Open market: DKK 0 • PhD student from Danish PhD school not Open market: DKK 3.000 • PhD student from foreign university: DKK 3.000 • Master's student from Danish university: DKK 0 • Master's student from foreign university: DKK 3.000 • Non-PhD student employed at a university (e.g., postdocs): DKK 3.000 • Non-PhD student not employed at a university (e.g., from a private company): DKK 8.400 Cancellation policy >Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge. >Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000 >Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000 >No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000 >Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000

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