Abstract
Good news for veterinarians in experimental animal research: since summer 2018, the Swiss
The Association of Veterinarians in Industry and Research (SAVIR) awards the newly created title of the Diplomate Specialized Veterinarian in Laboratory Animal Science (Dipl. SVLAS). This title, for expert veterinarians in the field of laboratory animal science, represents a recognition of professional skills and thus is an upgrading of the profession. The title Dipl. SVLAS is protected under private law by SAVIR. SAVIR sets the procedure for the program in the SVLAS rules. The scope of the rules includes the postgraduate recognition of veterinarians in the field of laboratory animal science with the aim of covering the basic procedures related to laboratory animals. The basis of this recognition lies less in the differences between species but more in the basic principles in the care and use of laboratory animals in animal facilities.
Specialized veterinarians are particularly important for the:
– development and application of the 3Rs principle and the protection of animals; – basic veterinary care of laboratory animals; – the veterinary management, hygienic monitoring and/or planning of facilities in which the animal experiments are carried out; – surveillance of animal housing and care before, during and after an experiment, including specific treatments and/or breeding of laboratory animals; – transport of animals at national or international level; – planning, monitoring and execution of animal experiments (study design); – assessment of results and reporting; – consulting, basic, continuing and qualifying training for the personnel involved in the experiments – support of researchers as an animal welfare delegate; – members of ethics committees and/or other working groups in the field of laboratory animal science.
As prerequisites to be accepted as a SVLAS candidate, interested people need to live or work in Switzerland and must have a Swiss federal diploma in veterinary medicine (or a diploma recognized in Switzerland). Candidates also must be active SAVIR members and need to have sufficient practical experience in experimental animal research. This includes adequate basic training for experimenters (LTK Module 1 or 20 in Switzerland) and for experimental animal study directors (LTK Module 2 in Switzerland) or equivalent training abroad that is officially recognized in Switzerland. In addition to basic training, candidates must have working experience in in vivo research for at least 4 years as an experimenter and/or study director in Switzerland or abroad.
In order to be awarded the title, candidates must submit a detailed catalogue of competences that provides information about their professional qualifications and work experience. Deadline for submission is the October 15 of every year. Only complete dossiers will be considered. If the SVLAS Credential Committee recognizes this dossier as sufficient, the candidate will be admitted to the examination. Upon passing the exam, the candidate will be awarded the title Dipl. SVLAS. During the complete process, candidates can be supported by a mentor (a person who already holds Dipl. SVLAS). All title holders are obliged to act as mentors for new candidates.
Registration is open from now on, and the first candidates have already registered for the program. If you want to learn more about the Dipl. SVLAS title, please have a look on the SVLAS website: http://www.svlas.ch. SAVIR was founded in 2002 and supports veterinarians in the fields of business, industry, research and education. The purpose of the association is to promote the profession of veterinarians in industry and research, to enhance the professional image of industrial veterinarians and to represent members in their community, to committees and organizations of the Swiss and international veterinary community. In addition, deepening the professional and personal relationships of members amongst each other is intended, as well as promotion of further education of members. On the occasion of the newly implemented Dipl. SVLAS title, the website of the association has also been completely revised and now appears in a more modern design: http://www.savir.ch.