Versatile Expertise at a Unique Surgical Department at Experimental Biomedicine
At Experimental Biomedicine, there is a surgical department unique to Sweden, where doctors, veterinarians, and other healthcare professionals can delve into the latest surgical techniques. The facility, also used by the emergency response team for trauma training, is a vital asset for research and development.
Most research studies conducted at Experimental Biomedicine (EBM) are performed on small rodents such as mice and rats, but EBM also has a large animal department and a surgical department, equipped similarly to a high-tech hospital. This makes it the only one of its kind in Sweden and one of the best-equipped in Europe.
Researchers using the surgical department represent various disciplines, such as orthopedics, cardiology, and gynecology. They work on research and development of surgical techniques, treatment methods, and medical technology.
Additionally, the surgical department serves as a training platform for doctors and other healthcare professionals. For example, parts of the three-day national trauma course Definitive Surgical Trauma Care/Definitive Anesthetic Trauma Care (DSTC/DATC) are conducted there. During the course, participants practice practical surgical skills to handle major organ injuries, emergency care, and anesthesia.
This is a glimpse of the multifaceted activities at the surgical department of Experimental Biomedicine.
Some of those working at the surgical department are Ida, Ann, and Sara. All three feel motivated when they think about how the research conducted at EBM’s surgical department can concretely benefit patients.
The three colleagues complement each other with their respective backgrounds and expertise. Ida is a licensed veterinary nurse with over 20 years of experience from AstraZeneca. She joined EBM in 2022. Ann, with a background as a biomedical analyst and previous experiences from various research fields, has been part of EBM since 2008. Sara, who is a trained veterinary nurse, has worked at EBM since 1999 and has previous experience from animal hospitals. They agree that their complementary skills are a great advantage in their work:
“It is an advantage in our work that we have such complementary skills,” says Ida, and her colleagues agree.
“Together, we get a good overall perspective, which allows us to handle different issues and support each other effectively,” says Ann. Sara adds:
“Our main focus is always on the well-being of the animals and providing good support to the researchers that are using our facility, thus creating optimal conditions for successful research and education.”
Experimental Biomedicine (EBM), part of Core Facilities, is a modern facility for animal research at the University of Gothenburg. EBM supports research in several medical fields such as cancer, neurological diseases, rheumatism, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and vaccine development. There is a strong connection to the hospitals in the Västra Götaland region, especially Sahlgrenska University Hospital where many doctors who do research with support from EBM work clinically with patients.