This seminar is part of the DPhil Teaching Modules at NDORMS and is open to all staff and students.

The use of animal models is a crucial part of biomedical research. In this module students will be introduced to the basic concepts of in vivo research and will learn when to use animal models in their research and which animal models are available in the department.

Advantages and pitfalls of these animal models will be a key aspect of each talk. The module will be delivered by senior students and post-docs with first-hand experience in in vivo research.

After an introduction to in vivo research, students will learn about animal models of cancer and gastroenterology. This talk will focus on introducing the basics of the GI tract and common models used to study GI illnesses including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

The third talk of the module will concentrate on how students can obtain approval from UK regulators to set up new animal models and what steps they need to reach to validate the effectiveness of a disease model. This talk will finish by informing students of current musculoskeletal disease models available in the department.

The module will conclude with a talk summarising the latest in vivo imaging techniques such as intravital microscopy which allows for cellular interactions to be observed in situ. This talk will also discuss how to design imaging experiments and current imaging tools available within the department.

Talks for 20 mins with 10 mins for questions and discussion.

Pradeep Kumar Sacitharan: Introduction to in vivo research and transgenic mice
Nathan West: In vivo models of cancer and gastroenterology
Break
Geoffrey Lee: Obtaining approval for in vivo models and MSK disease models
Emily Thornton: In vivo imaging