Good training for staff caring for and using laboratory animals is essential in order for the 3Rs of replacement, reduction and refinement to be fully implemented.
The need for specific training for carers and users of genetically altered animals has been highlighted previously, but what such training should involve and how it is best carried out, had not been defined.
With this in mind the Transgenic Training Working Group (TTWG) was formed to explore current training provision for transgenic techniques and to discuss different training methods and the current level of demand.
To date the working group has:
- completed an investigation of how training is carried out and what components training for staff at all levels should include.
- organised a series of one-day meetings for animal technicians and animal care staff, now entitled Genetically altered animals and the 3Rs – what’s it all about?
- produced a training resource promoting current best practice - see poster: Transgenics and the 3Rs - what's it all about? (PDF 309KB)
- established a new two-day residential training course entitled Managing mouse colonies: breeding, genetics and welfare. This course has been very well received and was run for the third time in June 2012.
- delivered a new one-day meeting on Conditional transgenesis technologies: principles and best practice - October 2012.
More information
- Contact the working group, email: GA@rspca.org.uk
- For information on other RSPCA working groups relevant to GA animals see the GA Passport Working Group and Sharing and Archiving of GA mice pages.