Kiev State Medical University
Department of Physiology, Medical Biology, Physics and Biochemistry
Head of Department Prof Alexander Polyakov contacted us because he wanted to switch his course to modern technologies. The reasons he gave were both ethical, i.e. respect for nature, and economic. Keeping and breeding animals is expensive and time-consuming. Alternatives save time and money and have educational advantages because the experiments can be repeated indefinitely.
On 26 December 2016, we presented the department with a laptop, a projector and numerous simulation programs and films. According to the agreement, the experiments will be discontinued from 1 Sept. 2017. Every year, 720 animals (20 mice, 320 rats and 380 frogs) will no longer have to suffer and die.
In addition to the usual physiological practices on the nerves and muscles of decapitated frogs, the curriculum also included inducing various pathological conditions in rats, such as hypoglycaemic coma, removal of the thyroid gland and severing of spinal nerves. This is now a thing of the past.
Prof Alexander Polyakov and lecturer Svetlana Mavrich are happy about the donated animma-free teaching tools.
Control visit
During his control visit on 2 July 2018, Dimitrij Leporskij was able to see for himself that the donated materials are in use. He spoke to some of the students, all of whom were enthusiastic about the computer programmes. The animal experiments were cruel and unnecessary. Lecturer Svetlana Mavrich sees her department as a pioneer for humane education at her faculty, because unfortunately some of her colleagues at other departments still use animals.
