Taiwan touts interactive lab animal microsurgery education center

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) Taiwan's National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) on Tuesday introduced a new interactive lab animal microsurgery education center, touting its ability to increase the post-surgical survival rate of lab animals to nearly 100 percent.

At a press conference, NARLabs President Tsai Hung-yin (蔡宏營) introduced the new facility, which was established by the National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC) under NARLabs in Taipei, as the first of its kind in the world.

Tsai said that researchers often simulate illness and diseases -- such as strokes from vascular embolism -- on small lab animals using microsurgeries to test new treatments and medications.

However, enhancing microsurgery skills and reducing the use of lab animals is a global trend the center seeks to follow, he said.

NLAC Director-General Chin Hsian-jean (秦咸靜) said that the education center, which was opened in October 2024, utilizes a hybrid teaching method that allows students to watch surgical operations on their individual devices on site, from home or on streaming applications.

Such a method is different from the past when a group of students had to crowd around the teacher to watch one screen showing the microsurgery, Chin said.

She said that the new education center can accommodate 12 students, where the teacher can observe students' operations and provide real-time guidance.

Chin also said that the NLAC has developed bionic teaching aids including models of skin and vessels for beginners to practice on, thereby reducing the number of lab animals operated on.

In the past, she said, student microsurgeries resulted in a large number of lab animal deaths, with a survival rate below 80 percent.

However, the new approach, after being carried out by trainees at the new center, has increased post-surgical survival rates to nearly 100 percent, Chin said.

The NLAC is considering applying to patent the bionic teaching aids, she added.

The education center also enhances animal welfare by employing an animal care system that incorporates anaesthetization, monitoring and breeding systems, Chin said.

She expressed hope that the center will in the future be able to provide preclinical testing for universities and pharmaceutical companies around the world.