Individual funding

There is a problem of aflatoxin in milk and milk products which is mainly contributed by farmers exposing animal to animal to contaminated feeds hence the molds products passed to human which is of public concern, hence this work aim to investigate the level of mycotoxins and to minimize it, also to bring awareness of the problem in the area, hence funding this project will help the country to take measure on the matter and save life of people. when funded this work will be attached to Nelson Mandela Institute of Science and Technology in Arusha, Tanzania

This grant request seeks financial support for attending the Master in Laboratory Animal Science and Welfare course, a renowned program focused on providing comprehensive education in laboratory animal care, ethics, and welfare. By participating in this course, I aim to enhance my professional development and acquire advanced knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for the highest standards of animal care in research settings within Brazil. The acquired expertise will be shared with my peers and the broader research community through presentations, publications, and collaborative projects. Ultimately, the grant will contribute to the advancement of laboratory animal science education in Brazil, bridging the knowledge gap and fostering a culture of care and responsibility. This will, in turn, promote the continuous improvement of animal welfare standards in the country, ensuring the ethical treatment of animals in research and a more sustainable scientific ecosystem.

a fellowship in an animal facility to acquire new knowledge and technical competences in the care and use of laboratory animals. I will be involved in the whole process to learn and observe.

Animal experiments may only be performed if there are no suitable alternatives. If animals are used, all possible effort should be taken to reduce the number of animals and refine experimental procedures to minimize the discomfort experienced by the animals (following ‘3Rs’ principle). While 3R requirements regarding mammalian species are meanwhile accepted, the welfare of avian species, the study system for my research on prenatal physiological programming, still needs to be promoted. For this, specific knowledge on their behaviour, physiology, husbandry and appropriate experimental procedures is necessary. I will acquire state-of-the-art knowledge by doing a ‘species specific laboratory animal science course on poultry and other birds’ offered by Utrecht University, enabling me to adhere to the highest standards regarding the welfare of birds used in experiments. Being an expat researcher in the Netherlands, this education will enable me to advocate the welfare of avian species in an international context too.

I am the Experimental Unit Manager, at the Research Animal Facility. • Provide Refinement of Care Standards for Experimental Unit animals, to ensure compliance with ethical, welfare, legal, health and safety and operational requirements for conducting world-class research in South Africa’s largest academic research animal facility.• To provide the UCT Research Animal Facility with dedicated clinical and para-clinical Para-Veterinary support. • To perform Facility Management of the Experimental Unit laboratories BSL1, BSL 2 and BSL3. Laboratory Animal Technology formal training was discontinued in South Africa in 1996. And students like me have made use of the (IAT) training through Venture Forward and CLAST to improve ourselves in this field of Laboratory Animal Sciences. CLAST is the only institute that offers the Level 4,5 and 6 Diplomas To learn new technology and Skill in the Laboratory Animal Science field so I will be able to train the upcoming students in the field. I am a chairperson of the Laboratory Animal Technologist Working Group, and we organize training for the student who are currently registered with Venture Forward doing Level 2 and Leve3 Diplomas. I need to acquire formal qualification a BSC honors degree in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology at the completion of Level 5 and Level 6. And eventually enroll for a master’s in laboratory animal science degree. Laboratory Animal Technology was previously offered through Technikon South Africa (TSA) but was discontinued in 1996. Currently there is only 14 LATs registered with SAVC and there are over 42 research institutions needing the services of this profession making it a profession in high demand, and of these 14 registered LAT’s most of them are reaching retirement age within the next +-3 -10 years. Which will result in this scarce skill being lost.

The Master is accredited by the Felasa and forms part of the UAB Laboratory Animal Residential Program recognised by European College for Laboratory Animal Medicine. The program aims to provide expertise and professional excellence in all areas of laboratory animal science relevant to animal experimentation. Specifically, the program is designed for veterinarians and other specialist personnel designated with responsibility for the welfare and care of laboratory animals.