Theoretical phase completed in OMU’s 19th Laboratory Animal Use Certification Program

The theoretical phase of the 19th Laboratory Animal Use Certification Training Program, organized at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), was successfully completed with an examination held in the classrooms of the Faculty of Medicine.

A total of 39 participants from five different cities, Samsun, Ankara, Bursa, Ordu, and Trabzon, and six different universities took part in the program.

Coordinated by the OMU Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments (HADYEK), the training program was prepared by the Experimental Animals Application and Research Center (DEHAM) and the Distance Education Center (UZEM), and organized by the OMU Continuing Education Center (OMUSEM). A total of 24 instructors contributed to the program, during which participants received 40 hours of theoretical training.

Participants who successfully passed the examination following the theoretical phase became eligible to attend the next stage: 35 hours of practical training to be conducted at DEHAM. Those who successfully complete the practical training, which will be delivered through a one-to-one training model over a two-week period, and pass the subsequent practical examination will be awarded the Laboratory Animal Use Certificate.

“All living beings must be treated with the utmost respect”

Following the examination, HADYEK Chair Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ayyıldız and DEHAM Director Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aksoy met with the participants and shared important insights regarding the training content and animal ethics.

During their remarks, they emphasized that perspectives on laboratory animals and animal experimentation have changed significantly over the years, stressing that researchers must show the utmost respect to living beings that contribute their lives to the advancement of scientific research.

“We have trained 720 participants over the last four years”

The organizers also highlighted the program’s pioneering role in Türkiye and shared key statistics with the participants.

It was noted that, during the online theoretical training phase of the 19th course, participants collectively remained connected to the system for more than 1,400 hours of interactive learning. With the completion of this program, a total of 720 participants from 20 different provinces have received training over the past four years.

“Holistic methods bring success in health sciences”

The speakers also addressed the role of laboratory animals in scientific research within the field of health sciences, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches, particularly in the study of complex diseases.

They noted that a single method is often insufficient for investigating multifaceted conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, combining behavioral tests with cellular, biochemical, and genetic data can contribute to the production of higher-quality academic outcomes. Such comprehensive studies, they stated, have the potential to generate results suitable for publication in prestigious, high-impact scientific journals.

The program concluded with best wishes for success in the participants’ future academic endeavors.