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UNICAEN | UNIVERSITÉ DE CAEN NORMANDIE | UFR Sciences

Master's degree Integrative Biology and Physiology Track Management of Animal Ethics in Experimental Medicine

field(s) of training :

Science, Technology, Health

diploma level :

Grade de Master (Bac+5)

duration of the program :

2 years

location(s) :

Caen

Course overview

Research and development in health products often require experimenting on animal models. The master’s Integrative Biology and Physiology specialises in Management of Animal Ethics in Experimental Medicine to teach you how to perform these tests in respect of animals.

This two-year full-time programme associates theoretical, technical and legal knowledge in pre-clinical testing and management. Besides, this master’s is research-oriented and allows you to acquire the standards levels in animal testing and experimental surgery.

Highlights

The master’s programme in Biology and Physiology is jointly organised by the Faculty of Sciences and the University School of Management (IAE). As such, you will attend courses in various laboratories that will share their expertise:

Moreover, your specialisation in Management of Animal Ethics in Experimental Medecine will allow you two standard certificates required to work in laboratories:

  • Project design in animal experimentation: to lead a study
  • Experimental surgery: to carry out surgery acts on animals

Application requirements

Entry requirements

To enter this master’s, you should 

  • Master fundamentals in physiology
  • Graduate from a degree in Biology, Veterinary Medicine or Neurosciences

Language proficiency requirements

Minimum French level required: C1

Specific conditions

If you completed Year 1 of this master's, you will automatically enter Year 2.

If you completed Year 1 of another master's, you can apply to Year 2 of this master's.

Course structure

Courses

  • Take place 
    • On site in the University of Caen Normandy for most of the courses, either in the Faculty of Sciences, located on Campus 1, or in the Faculty of Health, located on Campus 5 
    • Remotely for the course units organised by the IAE (around 25% of the programme)
  • Amount to 270 hours per semester
  • Are completed by two compulsory internships

Course units

The master’s in Integrative Biology and Physiology focuses both on biomedical sciences and management. As such, you can attend scientific course units such as:

  • Anatomy and comparative physiology
  • Applied genetics and transgenesis
  • Bioethics and animal regulations
  • Alternative methods to animal experimentation
  • Behaviour and wellbeing in breeding
  • Zootechny and operational hygiene and security
  • Pharmacology, toxicology and drug design
  • Non-invasive study methods
  • Quality insurance, regulations, pharmaceutical development

You will also attend course units common to masters’ in Neurosciences and Biology and Health:

  • Brain pathologies or Physiology and cardiovascular physiopathology
  • Cerebrovascular accidents or Reproduction
  • English (including scientific English, with most scientific articles studied in English)
  • Biostatistics

As well as course units specialised in team and projects management, jointly organised with the IAE:

  • Marketing
  • General accounting
  • Team building
  • Human resources management
  • Management control
  • Project management
  • Management techniques
  • Decision support tools

Internships and placements

The master’s programme includes two compulsory internships, in a company or a laboratory, in France or abroad:

  • Year 1, 2nd semester of the master’s: 8-week-long internship (minimum)
  • Year 2, 2nd semester of the master’s: 4-month-long internship (minimum)

Both internships will be evaluated through detailed written report and an oral presentation of this report.

Coursework and assessment

The course lasts 2 years and is divided in 4 semesters, each comprising several courses units. Examinations are held at the end of each semester and are graded on a scale from 0 to 20, 20 being the best grade. 

To successfully complete a semester, you must have an average mark of at least 10 points out of 20. If you have not completed your semester, you can retake the courses units you failed; you do not have to retake the courses in which you have obtained at least 10 points out of 20.

Language

French

Learning outcome

By the end of this course, you will be able to

  • Conceive, lead and carry out experimental protocols within a scientific programme
  • Develop and adapt experimental techniques respecting ethics requirements
  • Ensure methodological review and develop new tools and methods
  • Collect data, validate, process and interpret the results
  • Share and valorise results and technology productions
  • Carry out administrative duties of a research unit
  • Manage a team and monitor their skills
  • Ensure animal respect and wellbeing, regulations regarding sheltering and environment improvement as well as biology hazards
  • Implement hygiene and security rules

Further study

Since the master’s is research-oriented, you are encouraged to pursue doctoral studies depending on your research topic.

Careers

As an expert in management of animal ethics in experimental medicine, you will have opportunities in fields such as:

  • Companies in pharmaceuticals, biotechnologies, food, cosmetics…
  • Companies in product development (technology devices design…) such as starts-ups in biotechnology
  • Animal breeding
  • Specialised public services

As such, you will be able to work as:

  • Application, product, theoretical or applied research engineer in animal experimentation
  • Research associate, clinical research associate
  • Project manager, task officer
  • Technical and administrative executives (study, research, industrial development, theoretical research)
  • After a PhD: researcher, research professor (in theoretical or applied research)

Address

Université de Caen Normandie

UFR des Sciences

Esplanade de la Paix · CS 14032 · 14032 Caen Cedex 5

France

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