University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest

ANTECEDENTS. In 1987 Sándor György Fekete, with the support of vice-rector Prof. Dr. Ferenc Vetési, PhD, developed the CV and started an elective course ‘Experimental design’ with 15 hours in a the semester 6. Topics included not only the experimental design but also bioethics and ‘how to write’ scientific publications. Subject finished with an written exam. In 1991 the enlarged version of the subject (Laboratory Animal Science and Experimental Design) became obligatory for the PhD-students of the University of Veterinary Science Budapest in 30 hours. The oral exam comprised an analysis of a previously distributed scientific publication, too. In 1996, a commonly 80-hour course has been organised together and under the control of the Department of Laboratory Animal Science of Utrecht University (Prof. van Zutphen, Harry Blom and Eva Baumann themselves delivered lectures). A series of teaching materials (slides, videos, textbooks etc.) has been grante

d by the Dutch partner.

In Brussels (autumn of 1997) Prof. Fekete presented at an ICLAS/FELASA workshop the curriculum of the above subject, which has been generally accepted. From this time on, the Institute of Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, with the whole responsibility of Prof. Sándor György Fekete, 80-hour-long courses are being organised in Hungarian and English languages, 1 or 2 in a year, for 20 to 40 persons. In 1998 and 2000 the English language course accepted participants from other countries, e.g. Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia. The curriculum of these courses has also been controlled by the Utrecht University and it corresponds to the FELASA guidelines.

In 2004 Hungary became a full member of the European Union, and in this way adaptation of 86/609/EEC (currently 2010/63/EU, about the protection of animals used for scientific purposes) directive became mandatory. The minimum 80-hour-long course is obligatory for the vet PhD-students, it is open and free of costs for PhD-students of other biology-related Hungarian universities and it isavailable, but with fees for other specialists of the field. The curriculum has been made according to the FELASA recommendation (2003).

The name of the subject, emphesizing the importance of animal welfare and care, in 2007 has been changed to Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Protection, but it continues to fullfil the requirements of the FELASA C-equivalent curriculum. The exam consists of four parts, namely a multiple choice test, writing and openly defendse an experimental design, peer review of a scientific paper from the point of view of laboratory animal science and experimental design and writing an ethical assay. The Faculty of Veterinary Science issues a Hungarian-English speaking FELASA C-equivalent certificate, signed by the vice dean and Professor Sandor Gyorgy Fekete, responsible for the suject on whole.

In 2005 the Interdivisional Scientific Committee for Animal Experimentation of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences accepted the above certificate as necessary and sufficient document for all scientists in Hungary, dealing with animal trials. Internationally, there is a possibility for a mutual recognition of certificates on a bilateral aggreement basis.

Teachers from the Department: Prof. Dr. Sándor Fekete, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dr. József Szabó, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dr. László ZÖLDÁG, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ✝Dr. István Csáky, PhD, Habil. Prof. Dr. István Hullár, CSc, Dr. András Bersényi, PhD., Habil. Prof. Dr. Éva Cenkvári, CSc., Habil.. Prof. Dr. András Gáspárdy, PhD.

Regularly invited teachers (in the order of thematics): Prof. Dr. András Falus, Full Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dr. Péter Sótonyi, Csc, Prof. Dr. János Fodor, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ✝Prof. Dr. Péter Rudas, Doct