Orsi Academy gets on #BOARD during the Be Open About Animal Research Day
On June 16, the European Animal Research Association (EARA) co-ordinates this global campaign encouraging institutes to raise awareness about the proactive approach to communicate about the use of animals in research.
The welfare of our laboratory animals is one of our top priorities!
Orsi Academy has a team of veterinarians and animal caretakers providing guidance during robotic and surgical training programs on anesthetized porcine and sheep models. We attach great importance to the general principles, requirements and responsibilities relating to animal welfare.
The added value of laboratory animals
Wet lab training on live animals is the final step in the learning curve of the surgeon after training on simulators, plastic models, 3D printed models and isolated organs. The most important advantage of using a live animal model is the fact that an active blood flow is present in this model. This allows the surgeon to train his skills in a realistic situation, outside the real operation room, away from the human patient.
Highest standards in animal care
All members of the animal care team, vet techs & veterinarians receive continuing education and training in order to achieve the highest standards in animal care. It is the most important task of our veterinarians to make every stap in the training programmes as comfortable as possible for the animals. All our staff attach great importance to the set of rules stipulated in Orsi's Animal Welfare Policy.
Environmental enrichment
We aim to keep the level of stress at its lowest with providing great environmental enrichment for the lab animals.
- All animals are socially housed in a state-of-the-art barn with straw to enhance rooting and nest-building behaviour and to provide gut fill and enhance satiety.
- Different toys for pigs (balls, chains…) are available. After all, who doesn't like to play a game of football?
- Sheep have free access to a big meadow.
- Last but not least, our laboratory animals can enjoy some relaxing tunes in the barn since music is good for stress relief.
Before any animal is used for a training or a research purpose,
Orsi Academy makes efforts to find a replacement alternative
Alternative training models
During the training, participants work on different models as they progress along the learning curve. Before any animal is used for a training or a research purpose, Orsi Academy makes efforts to find a replacement alternative. Next to lab animals, we offer a whole range of non-clinical training models:
- Video
- Simulator
- Synthetic models
- 3D printed models
- Artificial intelligence
- Augmented reality
- ...
If no justified replacement is available, then we make sure we reduce the number of animals used, for example by harvesting the organs of the used animals.
As proud signatory of the national Transparency Agreements, we commit to openness and transparency in its use of animals for research. By demonstrating openness, Orsi Academy can bring about a greater understanding of the reasons why animals are needed for research and trainings at our facility.
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