The "14th Laboratory Animal Use Certification Training Program" examination was recently conducted at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU). The program, organized by the Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (HADYEK) and prepared by the Laboratory Animals Application and Research Center (DEHAM) in collaboration with the Distance Education Center (UZEM) and Continuous Education Center (OMÜSEM), completed its theoretical part asynchronously through distance learning.

The examination at the Distance Education Center saw the participation of 77 researchers from 12 cities. Successful candidates in the exam will be eligible to join practical training sessions.

The pre-exam ceremony was attended by OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Cengiz Çokluk, HADYEK Chairman Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ayyıldız, DEHAM Director Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aksoy, and Dean of the Veterinary Faculty Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, along with educators.

Rector Ünal: "We will give full support"

Rector Ünal emphasized OMU's commitment to supporting R&D and highlighted the importance of structures like DEHAM in boosting living comfort and enhancing research results. He assured full support for researchers involved in externally funded projects, particularly those collaborating with OMU.

DEHAM Director Aksoy: "We are the best course in Türkiye"

DEHAM Director Aksoy proclaimed, "Our course is the best in Türkiye, drawing significant demand nationwide. We have a total of 2,910 hours of connection time, and the success is largely due to the Distance Education Center and the organization by the Continuous Education Center. Our training is essential, not just an exercise. It aims to reduce the number of animals used in experiments, which is an ethical necessity."

HADYEK President Ayyıldız: "Face-to-face training will be given to those who succeed in the exam"

HADYEK Chairman Ayyıldız stated, "Unlike other universities that limit their courses to 30 participants, we have no such restriction. Our course, comprising theoretical and practical parts, totals 75 hours, with 40 hours delivered asynchronously. Successful candidates in today's theoretical exam will receive face-to-face practical training at DEHAM."

Participants from various cities, including İstanbul, Ordu, Sinop, Rize, Afyonkarahisar, Giresun, Trabzon, Amasya, Bartın, Çorum, and Diyarbakır joined the program, which was based on a directive from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.

The program's educators included Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ayyıldız, Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aksoy, Prof. Dr. Gülay Çiftçi, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kürşad Daş, Prof. Dr. Şerife Tütüncü, Prof. Dr. Şinasi Umur, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Sırrı Bilge, Prof. Dr. Yüksel Terzi, Prof. Dr. Şule Sanal, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berfin Melikoğlu Gölcü, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buğra Genç, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Enes Atmaca, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leman Tomak, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Arslan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Tümay Gürler, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuğrul Ertuğrul, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Özan, Research Assistant Dr. Efe Karaca, Research Assistant Dr. B. Deniz Ersoy, Research Assistant Elif Bağatır, Research Assistant Melis Göl, Research Assistant Zeyno Nuhoğlu Öztürk, Research Assistant Nurcan Delice, Lecturer Musa Şahin, and Veterinary Surgeon Hakan Fidanboy.