The second Summer School of Experimental Surgery was organized under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague. The course lasted two weeks from 6th of July to 17th of July 2015 and aimed not only to demonstrate experimental surgery in practical exercises, but also introduced students to the possibilities, limits and boundaries of the field.
Considerable time and space was devoted to methods that experimental work could partially replace or enhance an extra dimension, such as software modeling, working with cell cultures, etc. The course was designed for 25 undergraduate students who were divided into 4 groups. The course contained a syllabus that included perioperative care of experimental animals, anesthesia, surgical techniques of training and preparation of animal models, experimental radiology, evaluation of the experiment (histological, biochemical, statistical methods, etc). It also put great emphasis on the ethical aspects of experimental surgical procedures with regard to the principle of the 3R's (reduction, refinement, replacement). Finally, students were familiar with the modeling software, which allows in certain situations the replacement of experimental models.
The course was taught in English language and has been open to students from all over the world. Students of our university could also attended the course, so they had a chance to establish contacts and improve their professional skills and to strengthen the international cooperation Social programme of Summer School provided wide range of activities to suit all tastes. Let’s name at least two highly evaluated leisure activities – canoeing on the Berounka River or visit to Prague. The course was concluded with Certificate Presentation Ceremony at historic building of Pilsen town hall. The last evening the Farewell party took place in the garden of Procházka Pavilion.
