I.Y. Gorbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University
Department of Histology
Currently, iit is illegal in Ukraine, to use human cadavers for research or educational purposes. The Ternopil State Medical University has several preserved cadavers from the Soviet era as display items, but students cannot practice on fresh cadavers. The same problem exists with histology. The old histological slides are damaged, and animals would have to be killed to create new ones. However, the Head of Department Prof. Konstantin Volkov, rejected this for ethical reasons. It's a dilemma.
We were able to remedy the situation and purchased two sets of histological slides with human tissue for the department. We also provided several simulation programs for histology and a laptop.
Around 200 rats, frogs, and guinea pigs, as well as six cats, would have had to be killed to create new slides. This will not happen now.
Our project leader, Dimitrij Leporskij, brought the equipment and slides to Ternopil in October 2013. Prof Volkov and Prof Elena Shutuma were extremely happy and grateful that, thanks to our help, they could spare the animals.
This is already the third department at the Ternopil State Medical University with which we have signed an agreement. The heads of the Departments of Physiology and Clinical Pharmacy have shared their positive experiences with the non-animal methods with their colleagues.
Prof Elena Shuturma and Prof Konstantin Volkov with the humane educational material.