Odessa I.I. Mechnikov National University

  • Faculty of Biology
  • Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Department of Human and Animal Physiology
  • Department of Hydrobiology and General Ecology
  • Department of Zoology
  • Department of Biochemistry

In October 2009, we signed agreements with four departments of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Odessa. Experiments on a total of 1,153 animals at the four departments could thus be replaced by modern teaching methods. The agreements determine that all experiments on live or dead animals in the curriculum will be discontinued from June 2010.

During an initial control visit in March 2010, we signed a further agreement with the head of the Department of Biochemistry.

Animals per year in the five courses that are no longer killed:

  • Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology: 16 axolotls, 40 rats
  • Department of Human and Animal Physiology: 590 frogs, 258 rats, 20 rabbits, 30 mice, 4 guinea pigs and 66 rats or rabbits
  • Department of Hydrobiology and General Ecology: 20 rats, 40 bony fish, 2 sharks, 50 molluscs
  • Department of Zoology: 15 rats or fish, 15 starfish, 30 grasshoppers, 30 earthworms
  • Department of Biochemistry: 105 rats or mice.

The faculty received a laptop, a video projector, a screen and numerous computer programmes and educational films. The Department of Biochemistry received a second-hand PC and some computer programmes.


Dr. Corina Gericke (DAAE) (left) and Prof Tetjana Kladky, head of the Department of Physiology, signing of the agreement.

Prof Tetjana Kladky, head of the Department of Physiology, had responded to our info pack mailing and brought three other heads of departments on board. In addition to the course on human and animal physiology, the courses on zoology, hydrobiology and ecology as well as genetics and molecular biology could also be made animal-free.


Dimitrij Leporskij showcased simulation programmes and films to lecturers, assistents and students at the University of Odessa.


We donated a laptop, a video projector, a screen and numerous computer programmes and educational films.


Dr Corina Gericke and Dr Natalia Leonidova Fedorko of the Department of Biochemistry.

Control visit

The control visits conducted by Dr Corina Gericke und Dimitrij Leporskij took place in March 2010. Everything was to our complete satisfaction.