РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА
УНИВЕРЗИТЕТ “Св. КИРИЛ И МЕТОДИЈ” - СКОПЈЕ
ФАКУЛТЕТ ЗА ВЕТЕРИНАРНА
МЕДИЦИНА
СКОПЈЕ
REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
UNIVERSITY “Ss. CYRIL AND METHODIUS”
SKOPJE
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
SKOPJE
To
International Council for
Laboratory Animal Science
Report of the training program awarded by ICLAS ERC (ICLAS ERC Fellowship training program 2013) from
Florina Popovska Percinic, PhD
I’m one of the three awardees of ICLAS ERC fellowship training program in laboratory animal science for 2013 and
for that purpose I’ve visited the Institute Clinique de la Souris (ICS) in Strasbourg, France in the period from
19.11.-29.11.2013.
In the beginning, I was introduced to the activities of the ICS through a short presentation from Elodie Bedu,
Manager in scientific business development and trainings. The ICS was built in 2002 and has a 6000 m2, providing
specialized services to academic and industrial users.
I’ve visited the breeding facility, occupying an area of 2100m2, located in the ground floor. They have 12 animal
rooms (16 640 cages in total) of genetically modified, specific pathogen free mice. The mouse facility supervisor
(Mrs. Dalila Ali-Hadji) has explained me the housing system in the breeding facility (the individually ventilated
caging (IVC) system, different types of cages (for breeding and stock), the ventilation system and the washing and
disinfection methods). I also got acquainted (as an observer) with the daily procedures in the animal facility
concerning methods for mouse identification, changing the bedding material and working with the specially
designed mouse software for data keeping. With that, I’ve fulfilled one of the goals of my visit, which was to get
the opportunity to learn about the organizing and functioning of laboratory animal facility according EU
standards. Since one of the aims in our department is to establish a vivarium with lab animals, now, we will be
able to implement the newly gained knowledge for developing modern standards of animal care in our faculty.
I had also participated (as an observer) to a different techniques performed by researchers or the veterinarian,
involving anesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia. Afterwards, we had very fruitful discussions especially with the
veterinarian, Mrs. Isabelle Goncalves Da Cruz, about pros and cons of these procedures. I had also theoretical
discussions about the mice and rats pathology and health status with the ICS and IGBMC veterinarians. That
helped me realize the promotion of the animal welfare concept during experimental design more clearly. The
gained knowledge will be incorporated not only in my future project proposals but also in the educational
program for students and PhD students through the subject about animal welfare and use of animals in scientific
purposes.
During the training, I had the opportunity to visit Histopathology and Embryology lab as one of the services of the
Phenotyping Department, were Dr. Hugues Jacobs and Dr. Olivia Wendling has discussed with me the methods
they are working on, as well as the daily routine methods, such as making histological or cryo slides and
performing a necropsy.
А д р е са : Л а за р П оп -Т р а јко в 5 -7 , A d d r e s s : L a za r P op -T ra jko v 5 -7 , 1 0 0 0
1 0 00 С к о п је , Р . М а к е до ни ја S ko p je , R . M a ce d on ia
Tel: +389 2 3240 700
Fa x : +389 2 3114 619
E -m a i l : f v m s @ f v m . u k i m . e d u . m k
W eb : h ttp ://w w w .fvm .u k im .e d u .m k
Certif icate No: 7459 7
As a member of University animal welfare committee in my country, I had very productive discussions and
exchanging experience with Mrs. Isabelle Goncalves Da Cruz, who is also a member of ethic committee in ICS
about several things, such as: project evaluation, legislation about trainings of the staff as well as members of the
ethical committee. We had also discussed and exchanged experience in some new aspects of the New Directive
2010/63 and its implementation, such as preparation of the nontechnical summary and retrospective assessment,
as well as animals used in experiments (article 9,10, 11). When I came back, in order to disseminate the newly
gained knowledge, I had already organized a presentation of this aspect of my visit to my fellow colleagues from
other faculties, also members of ethical committee as well as to a veterinarian in our Ministry who is involved in
implementing the New Directive 2010/63 into our national legislation for animal welfare and use of animals in
experiments.
During my stay I have briefly visited other activities of the ICS, such as Phenotyping Department with 6 different
labs for clinical characterization of mice and the equipment they have, with the emphasis of µCT and its
performances and the Microinjection and Cryopreservation Unit where I’ve observed the technique of putting the
ES cells into the blastocyst.
As a summary of my visit to ICS, I have to say that this training has fulfilled my expectations and my goals. It was a
very useful visit for me, both theoretical and practical part. Equal to the gained knowledge are the new people
and professional contacts that I’ve made during my stay, which I hope that will continue to develop in the future.
At the end, Therefore, I would like to express my warmest gratitude to the ICLAS ERC as well as to the sponsors of
this fellowship award for providing me with this opportunity. At the same time, I express my deepest appreciation
to the ICS board as well as to the employees from ICS who shared some of their knowledge with me and
especially to Mrs. Isabelle Goncalves Da Cruz, who made my entire schedule during the visit, enabling me to see
most of their different activities. Her well-organized plan together with her hospitality and generosity made my
stay in Strasbourg unforgettable.
Sincerely,
Florina Popovska-Percinic, PhD
А д р е са : Л а за р П оп -Т р а јко в 5 -7 , A d d r e s s : L a za r P op -T ra jko v 5 -7 , 1 0 0 0
1 0 00 С к о п је , Р . М а к е до ни ја S ko p je , R . M a ce d on ia
Tel: +389 2 3240 700
Fa x : +389 2 3114 619
E -m a i l : f v m s @ f v m . u k i m . e d u . m k
W eb : h ttp ://w w w .fvm .u k im .e d u .m k
Certif icate No: 7459 7