RESAL Accredited Symposium : Multimodal Imaging and the 3Rs in Preclinical Research at CIBM
In collaboration with the RESAL – Lemanic Animal Facility Network, the EPFL Center of PhenoGenomics, the CIBM Pre-Clinical Imaging EPFL Metabolic Imaging Section is happy to announce its upcoming RESAL accredited symposium. This continuing education course aims to introduce researchers to advanced imaging technologies and their applications in preclinical research. The two-part course will focus on how multimodal imaging supports the 3Rs principles: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement in animal experimentation.
About the Course
The course will provide participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in preclinical imaging. A particular emphasis will be placed on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), showcasing their potential to advance translational biomedical research.
Theoretical lectures will cover topics ranging from non-invasive in vivo imaging, metabolic modelling, oxidative stress and inflammation, to practical tips on preparing successful applications for animal experiments in Switzerland. The hands-on training will give participants the opportunity to observe and assist the work directly with advanced equipment and gain insight into surgical models, anaesthesia protocols implemented for MRI/MRS or PET experiments, animal monitoring, and in vivo MRI/MRS data acquisition.
The members who will be teaching and sharing their expertise are:
Cristina Cudalbu
Bernard Lanz
Katarzyna Pierzchala
Dario Sessa
Estelle Gerossier
Jocelyn Grosse
Julie Parchet-Piccand
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for researchers and PhD students interested in multimodal biomedical imaging in their preclinical studies. The theory session is open to a broad audience; however, the practical session is intended for researchers who plan to conduct experiments at CIBM facilities.
By the end of the course, participants will gain:
- A better understanding of the pre-clinical imaging technologies available at the CIBM in EPFL
- Insights into the ethical and methodological aspects of animal research
- Practical skills in in-vivo imaging of rodent models
Program Overview
15 September 2025 – Part 1: Theory (Hybrid) (recognized as 1/2 day of continuous education) – EPFL, Lausanne | CIBM, CH F1-614
Half-day course including expert lectures on preclinical applications of in vivo MRI/MRS, PET, oxidative stress measurements, and practical guidance for animal experimentation. Participation is possible on-site or via Zoom.
- 9:00-9:45 Non-invasive MR Imaging and MR Spectroscopy: from theory to practice with in vivo examples
Cristina Cudalbu - 9:50-10:35 Metabolic modelling and PET: from theory to practice with in vivo examples
Bernard Lanz - 10:35-10:50 Coffee break
- 10:50-11:35 Oxidative stress and inflammation: from theory to practice with ex vivo examples
Katarzyna Pierzchala - 11:40-12:25 Tips & Tricks to effectively prepare an application for animal experiments
Julie Piccand
Date to be defined (afternoon) – Part 2: Practice (On-Site Only) (recognized as 1/2 day of continuous education)
Half-day practical course offering hands-on training with MRI/MRS scanning in rats, surgical and welfare considerations, and physiological monitoring during imaging experiments. Limited to 8–10 participants.
Participants must follow quarantine rules (3 days).
- 13:00-13:35 Type C Hepatic Encephalopathy animal model in rats: Surgical, Imaging, and Welfare Considerations
Estelle Gerossier, Jocelin Grosse - 13:35-13:55 Practice: anesthesia, animal fixation and monitoring in MR experiments
Estelle Gerossier, Jocelin Grosse, Dario Sessa - 14:00-17:00 Practice: MR scanning
Cristina Cudalbu, Bernard Lanz