Crimean State Medical University - Pathophysiology
Department of Pathophysiology
Project manager Dimitrij Leporskij initially visited six new interested parties in Kharkiv, Melitopol, Simferopol, Ternopil and Odessa at the beginning of 2012 to demonstrate animal-free teaching methods. All of the university lecturers visited were prepared to refrain from animal use and killing animals in higher education in future and to switch to animal-free teaching methods.
The agreements were signed in April 2012. The university lecturers undertake to refrain from any animal use and killing animals in the respective course from the start of the new semester on 1 September 2012.
Prof Anatoly Kubyshkin, Head of the Department of Pathophysiology at the Crimean State Medical University in Simferopol, with the signed agreement and the donated animal-free teaching materials: Laptop, surgical models, DVDs and CDs.
The pathophysiology course has so far used rats and frogs to demonstrate the body's response to various influences and certain medical conditions, including inflammation, fever, starvation, oxygen deficiency, pulmonary oedema, diabetes, heart attack, pancreatitis, kidney failure, etc. Every year, 850 rats and 550 frogs are now saved from these particularly cruel animal experiments.
Control visit
The control visit took place on 8 February 2013. Prof. Anatoly Kubyshkin confirmed that all animal testing had been discontinued in accordance with the agreement. A study conducted at his department found that the use of videos, software, and models not only prevents harmful animal use but also improves the quality of education. The teaching materials are easy to understand and sharpen students' attention.
From 3 to 5 October 2012, employees of the Department took part in the VI Congress of Pathophysiologists of Ukraine. The lecture “The potential of alternatives in pathophysiological training” was widely discussed and a summary was published in the scientific journal Tavrida medico-biological bulletin, 2012, 3(2); 284.
