RCULA and RCUF Training Courses

All staff and students caring for, and using live vertebrates for scientific purposes at NUS must be educated, trained and qualified to use animals in a humane and ethical manner.

These training courses will give personnel a general understanding on the regulations and the responsibility in using animals for scientific purposes. Successful participants will be awarded certificates, copies of which will be required when submitting protocols for IACUC review.

It is a requirement for all research institutions to comply with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) regulations, abide with the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) Guidelines, and acquire accreditation by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International.

Two courses are conducted at NUS:
1. Responsible Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (RCULA) conducted by LAC, for the use of common laboratory mammals, and
2. Responsible Care and Use of Fish (RCUF) conducted by LAC and Department of Biological Sciences, for the use of fish for scientific purposes.

1. Responsible care and use of laboratory animals (RCULA)

The course consists of a General Lecture Programme and a Species Specific Training (including lectures) Programme.

General Lecture Programme @ CeLS Auditorium
The Lecture programme is conducted in the morining of Day 1 from 9.00 am to 12.15 pm. for participants of RCULA and RCUF:

09:00 - 09:10	Registration
09:15 - 09:45	Biomedical Research Regulations, NACLAR Guidelines and You
09:45 - 10:15	The IACUC - Responsibilities, Functions and Guildelines on Completing the IACUC Application Forms
10:15 - 10:20	Q and A
10:20 - 10:40	Coffee Break
10:40 - 11:15	Occupational Health and Safety in Biomedical Research
11:15 - 11:50	The 3 R's, Ethical Responsibilities of a Researcher and the Use of Alternatives
11:50 - 12:10	LAC "Barrier Policies & Procedures"
12:10 - 12:35	LAC "Bio-containment Procedures"
12:35 - 13:00	Briefing on Walk through Procedures, Q&A Session, Collection of evaluation forms, Sign out

Species Specific Training Programme @ AHU
The Species Specific Training Programme is conducted in the afternoon of Day 1 and the whole Day 2 for participants of RCULA only. The species used includes mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig and pig. Training (with lectures) on animal use and aseptic surgery includes:
  (i) Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Recognising Pain
  (ii) Animal Handling & Blood Collection
  (iii) Intro to Surgery, Post-op Care and Euthanasia and
  (iv) Animal Disease and Diagnosis and Hands-on practical

2. Responsible care and use of fish for scientific purposes (RCUF)

The course consists of 2 half day lectures and a half day hands-on exercise conducted over 2 days. The first lecture, common to RCULA and RCUF, is conducted on the 1st day at CeLS auditorium. The second lecture and hands-on exercise session are conducted on the 2nd day at Department of Biological Sciences (DBS), S-2, level 3, LS lab 7. The practical session is limited to 30 participants.

Day 1 Lectures (morning)

9:00 am	Registration
9.15 am	Welcome address
9:30 - 10:15 am	Guidelines for responsible care and use of fishes for scientific purposes
10:15 - 10:45 am	Basic fish Anaesthesia and Analgesia, Recognizing Pain and Distress
10:45 - 11:15 am	Coffee Break
11:15 - 12:00 nn	Zebrafish and Medaka as Research Models
12:00 - 12:30 pm	Introduction to Surgery, Post-operative Care, Humane Endpoints and Methods of Euthanasia, Fish Diseases and Zoonoses
12:30 - 1:30 pm	Lunch break

 Hands-on session (afternoon)

30 - 5:30pm

Fish Handling Techniques Capture Anaesthesia Length and Weight Measurement Injection Techniques Blood Collection Tagging and Marking Embryo Handling (for bleeding) Transportation Surgery Routine Fish Treatment Euthanasia

 Please come with a long-sleeved lab coat for practical sessions. Instructions on humane bio-methology for fish, methods of handling, anaesthesia, measuring, weighing, routes of injection, tissue collection, marking, blood sampling techniques, and methods of euthanasia will be covered.

Fees

RCULA-

For NUS staff and students:

Lectures	$50
Each species specific session	$50 (includes re-training sessions)
For non-NUS staff and students:
Lectures	$80 plus GST
Each species specific session	$80 plus GST

Example: If a participant wanted training only in mice, he/she would pay $50 for lectures plus $50 for mice session. The charge for species specific sessions includes costs for re-training should a researcher request or require that. After attending species specific training on rats and/or mice, if researchers need to use rabbits in future, they are required to attend the next course on species specific training on rabbits. A separate charge of $50 is applicable.

RCUF-

RCUF Hands-on Only

NUS - $100

Non NUS - $150 + 7% GST

Lecture

NUS - $50

Non-NUS - $80 + 7% GST

Please note: Individuals needing vivarium access need to attend the Barrier Policies and Biocontainment Procedures. To sign-up for the lecture, please look under REGISTRATION.

Registration

Please submit your application to Ms Doreen Tan, Laboratory Animals Centre (Tel: 6516-6654) and for further queries on the course.
Email : ahutanww@nus.edu.sg

Download RCULA Application form

Schedule of RCULA training 2009

36^th RCULA

14^th Jan 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

14^st Jan 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbits Hand-on session

15^th Jan 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

15^th Jan 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

16^th Jan 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

16^th Jan 09 (Fri) Afternoon----G/pigs; Pigs

37^th RCULA

 11^th Feb 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

 11^th Feb 09 (Wed) Afternoon ---Rabbits Hand-on session

 12^th Feb 09 (Thu) Morning -------Rats hands-on session

 12^th Feb 09 (Thu) Afternoon ----Aseptic surgery

 13^th Feb 09 (Fri) Morning --------Mice hands-on session

 13^th Feb 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

38^th RCULA

18^th Mar 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

18^th Mar 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

19^th Mar 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

19^th Mar 09(Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

20^th Mar 09(Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

20^th Mar 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

39^th RCULA

22nd April 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

22^ndApril 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

23^rd April 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

23^nd April 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

24^th April 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

24^th April 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

40^th RCULA

20^th May 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

20^th May 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

21^st May 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

21^st May 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

22^nd May 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

22^nd May 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

 41^st RCULA

17^th June 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

17^th June 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

18^th June 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

18th June (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

19^th June 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

19^th June 09 (Fri) Afternoon----G/pigs; Pigs

 42^nd RCULA

15^th July 089 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

15^th July 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

16^th July 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

16^th July 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

17^th July 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-n session

 17^th July 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

43^rd RCULA

19^th Aug 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

19^th Aug 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

20^th Aug 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

 20^th Aug 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

 21^st Aug 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

21^st Aug 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

44^th RCULA

16^th Sept 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

16^th Sept 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

17^th Sept 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

17^th Sept 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

18^th Sept 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

18^th Sept 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

45^th RCULA

21^st Oct 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

21^st Oct 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

22^nd Oct 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

22^nd Oct 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

23^rd Oct 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

23^rd Oct 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

46^th RCULA

18^th Nov 09 (Wed) Morning -- ---Lecture

18^th Nov 09 (Wed) Afternoon -- Rabbit Hand-on session

19^th Nov 09 (Thu) Morning ----- Rats hands-on session

19^th Nov 09 (Thu) Afternoon ---Aseptic surgery

20^th Nov 09 (Fri) Morning -------Mice hands-on session

20^th Nov 09 (Fri) Afternoon------G/pigs; Pigs

NOTE:

RCULA Hands-on sessions:

Morning starts at 9.00 am to 1 pm

Afternoon starts at 2.00 to 5.30 pm

Schedule of RCUF training

Date: 12 November 2009

DBS LS Lab 7, S2 Level 3

RCULA Training course conducted by other institutions

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) - SingHealth
A-STAR Biological Resource Centre (BRC) at Biopolis