This module introduces the ethical considerations, experimental techniques, and data analysis methods that underpin drug development in the UK.
A key part of this process involves pre-clinical, or in vivo, research, which plays a central role in the discovery, development, and regulatory approval of new medicines.
In the UK, anyone carrying out regulated procedures on laboratory animals must hold a Personal Licence (PIL) issued by the Home Office. To obtain a PIL, applicants must successfully complete a basic training course and a practical assessment in handling the species they intend to work with. Those planning to perform surgical procedures are also required to undertake additional advanced training.
The short courses listed below have been selected as essential resources to support your understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks surrounding animal use in research. They cover the principles and application of the 3Rs, animal care and handling, recognition of health and well-being, health and safety, anaesthesia and analgesia, and the scientific and husbandry procedures relevant to laboratory animals.
Even if you never work directly with animals, it is vital to appreciate their role and significance in pharmacology.