SMI_logo_export-01 University of Szeged
Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School
Institute of Surgical Research

Organisational Management of the Course. Committees & Training Policy

FELASA_logo_2022

I. Overview

Organisational_management 
A. Relevant University Committees / National Competent Authorities

Animal Welfare Committee (Animal Welfare Body)
The members of the Animal Welfare Committee are appointed by the Rector of the University of Szeged for an indefinite period. The Committee consists of a Chairperson and members
(see:https://u-szeged.hu/mab/bizottsag-tagjai-191209/bizottsag-tagjai).
The Committee is regional Animal Welfare Body (AWB) as well as mandated by the law (Government Regulation (40/2013. (II. 14.) Gov.).
 
Main tasks of the Committee:

(a) Advice the staff dealing with animals on matters related to the welfare of animals;
(b) Advise the staff on the application of the requirement of replacement, reduction and refinement, and keep it informed of technical and scientific developments;
(c) Follow the development and outcome of projects, taking into account the effect on the animals used;
(e) Serving as regional ethical committee for the evaluation of applications for animal experiments.

Chair: József Kaszaki (associate professor in the Institute of Surgical Research),
email: kaszaki.jozsef@med.u-szeged.hu

The application form for ethical evaluation of animal experiments can be downloaded at: https://u-szeged.hu/mab/allatkiserletek. The complete and correct application shall be processed within 30 working days. In case of a positive decision the application should be submitted to the National Scientific Ethical Committee on Animal Experimentation (ATET) of the National Food Chain Safety Office (NEBIH): where a decision is made in 30 working days.
The ATET serves as National Competent Authority (and NCP) for accreditation of courses on laboratory animal science (Ordinance 40/2013. (II. 14.) of the Hungarian Government
On the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes:
https://nebih.gov.hu/szakteruletek/szakteruletek/aai/kozerdeku_aai/kotelezoen_nyilvantartott/allatkiserlet)
Address: 1024 Budapest, Keleti Károly u. 24., e-mail: atet@nebih.gov.hu)
Chairman: István Gyertyán (Semmelweis University, Budapest),
e-mail: gyertyan.istvan@med.semmelweis-univ.hu

Vice-chairman: Gábor Hirka, email: gabor.hirka@toxicoop.hu

Doctoral Council
The Doctoral Council of the USZ is responsible for Postgraduate (Doctoral) Education at the HEI. Each operational doctoral school has a Director, a Deputy Director and ordinary members.

B. Relevant Councils and Committees at the Faculty of Medicine

The boards operate under the aegis of the Faculty Council and the Dean of the Medical Faculty. There are two Committees at the Faculty of Medicine with responsibility for scientific research, and doctoral level education involving courses on laboratory animal science: (1) the Scientific Council and (2) the Committee of Medical Doctoral Schools, respectively. Education in laboratory animal science is organized under the auspices of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences Doctoral School.

1. Committee of Medical Doctoral Schools (Doctoral Council)
Doctoral School of Theoretical Medicine
Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Medicine
Doctoral School of Clinical Medical Sciences
Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences
Director: László Dux (Professor of Biochemistry) e-mail: dux.laszlo@med.u-szeged.hu
Deputy director: András Varró (Professor of Pharmacology)
e-mail: varro.andras@med.u-szeged.hu

2. Scientific Council of the Faculty of Medicine (Committee of Science and Research)
The Council has overall responsibility for the research activities of the Faculty. This includes the recruitment and employment of teaching staff, analysis of research, collaborative research projects and ethical matters.
The Committee consists of a Chairperson (also Vice-Dean for Scientific Affairs at the Faculty) and members.
Chairperson: Tamás Molnár, Vice-Dean for Scientific Affairs,
e-mail: molnar.tamas@med.u-szeged.hu

III. Educational requirements for animal experimentation & courses on laboratory animal science at the University of Szeged

Education in laboratory animal science is compulsory for those who intend to work and conduct research with laboratory animals at University of Szeged. All the aspects of educational activities related to animal experimentation in research are coordinated by the Institute of Surgical Research (Faculty of Medicine).

The courses for laboratory animal science "Animal experiments theory and practice level A” and "Animal experiments theory and practice Level B” were overseen for academic consent by the Scientific Council (Committee of Science and Research), the Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences and the Faculty Council of the Medical Faculty, and approved by the Senate of the University Szeged (documents attached).
The approved materials were forwarded to the National Competent Authority (ÁTET) for accreditation.
From 2014, the course material of Szeged University serves as template for all Hungarian HIEs for accreditation.

MAB

Level A (40 hrs). For a graduate student, doctoral student, young biomedical researcher or laboratory animal technician with no education in laboratory animal science or any experience of work with laboratory animals.

The elective course "Animal experiments theory and practice level A” should be taken. The course will focus on the responsible and appropriate use of animals in scientific experiments in which alternatives (refinement, reduction, replacement) play an essential role and the quality of biomedical research involving animal experiments. The certificate will be distributed upon graduation as MD or upon graduation for the master's programme. Students/researchers with a Level A education are not allowed to independently design and plan procedures/experiments in research projects involving laboratory animals.
Level A course is compulsory course for the PhD students of the Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences and elective course for Ph.D. students of other Medical / Non-medical Doctoral Schools

Level B. For a researcher or doctoral student with previous education in laboratory animal science with documented experience working with laboratory animals: 

The course "Animal experiments theory and practice level B” should be taken. The programme complies with the requirements of directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (22 September 2010) and the Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) demands. The certificate of completion of the course together with an academic degree in biomedical science will lead to a legal recognition to design animal experiments. Researchers with a Level B education are allowed to independently design and plan procedures/experiments in research projects involving laboratory animals in Hungary.
Level B course is compulsory course for the PhD students of the Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences and elective course for Ph.D. students of other Medical/Non-medical Doctoral Schools

Level B = FELASA C course

Laws and regulations on animal experimentation in Hungary
To be able to carry out research involving animal experiments the educational requirements mandated by law should be met.
The 1998 Hungarian Animal Welfare Act (XXVIII. Act) contains the basic legislation on experimental animals. The act has been revised and expanded on several occasions. The 2010/63/EU Directive (IRÁNYELV) is effective from 2013 in Hungary (Ordinance 40/2013. (II. 14.) and Ordinance 98/2014. (III. 25) of the Hungarian Government).
Links to Hungarian laws and regulations on animal experimentation:

IV. Organization structure of "Animal experiments theory and practice level A&B” - FELASA A&B course

The Medical School of the University of Szeged offers the opportunity to take part in the Course for animal experiments in January each year.
Requirements: the candidates must hold a university degree in Medicine or any branch of Biological Science.
The number of participants is limited. If the number of registrations exceeds the maximum number, we apply a first-come-first-served approach based on the date when we receive the registration.
The course is lectured in English. It comprises 80 hrs teaching, lectures, practices and group work. Theory and practice are closely linked and the acquired knowledge and practical skills will be assessed in a final examination. The examination is based on a written exam, the evaluation of an Animal Research Request (design of an animal experiment based on own research work) and practical exams.

Organization

The course is organized by the Institute of Surgical Research, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Szőkefalvi-Nagy Béla utca 6.

Venue
Institute of Surgical Research, 6720 Szeged, Szőkefalvi-Nagy Béla utca 6.
Course organizer: Mihály Boros (Professor of Surgical Research)
email: boros.mihaly@med.u-szeged.hu

Deputy organizer: József Kaszaki (Associate Professor):
email: kaszaki.jozsef@med.u-szeged.hu
Course administrator: Hegedűsné Nagyiván Edit,
email: hegedusne.nagyivan.edit@med.u-szeged.hu

Secretarial support: Ildikó Zsigó, email: zsigo.ildiko@med.u-szeged.hu

Course coordination, learning resources: József Kaszaki (associate professor):
email: kaszaki.jozsef@med.u-szeged.hu

Student assessment-related activities, evaluation: Andrea Szabó (associate professor)
email: andrea.szabo.exp@med.u-szeged.hu

Course monitoring (course review): Dániel Érces (assistant professor):
email: erces.daniel @med.u-szeged.hu

Student advising and support: Petra Hartmann (associate professor)
email: hartman.petra@med.u-szeged.hu

Student advising and support: Gabriella Varga (assistant professor)
email: varga.gabriella.1@med.u-szeged.hu

Course development and planning: Mihály Boros (Professor of Surgical Research)
email: boros.mihaly@med.u-szeged.hu

Chief veterinarian: Balázs Gaál: petmed@t-online.hu