Alexandru Parlog, IGBMC referral veterinarian
Arriving on March 2 and taking over from Dr vet. Isabelle Goncalves, Dr vet. Alexandru Parlog is the IGBMC's new veterinary referent. In collaboration with all researchers, animal house staff, the Ethics Committee and the SBEA, he is responsible for ensuring that all rules governing the use of animal models in research are respected. As a former engineer at ICS, Alexandru brings his dual skills as a clinical practitioner and scientist to bear on animal welfare and the ethical compliance of research projects.
A veterinarian with both clinical and research skills
Born in Romania, Alexandru obtained his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2007 from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest. With a master's degree in neuroscience from the University of Strasbourg and a scientific doctorate from Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, he joined the ICS phenotyping platform in 2015 as a research engineer. In 2019, he returns to work as a veterinary practitioner at the Galion veterinary clinic in Obernai. In 2023, he also assumes the role of referral veterinarian at the IGBMC, while retaining part of his clinical activity.
Updating practices, respecting ethical rules for tomorrow's science
The veterinarian's role in research goes beyond advising on disease or health issues. It is an integral part of the process of continuous improvement of scientific practices, particularly with regard to the "refinement" of model design, clinical follow-up and the culture of care, to meet the growing demands of today's ethically-sensitive society, but also to guarantee reliable scientific data.
"In practice, as a designated veterinarian and permanent member of the ethics and SBEA committee, I oversee the health and management of the animals, ensure that medical care is respected and carried out in general, advise on the management of pain, suffering and anxiety, and on anesthesia, analgesia and surgery. On top of that, there's the administrative part of my job, which is necessary for follow-up.
"A procedure considered painful in humans must be considered painful in animals. When in doubt, always consider the animal's well-being".
Despite the difficulties and complexity of this position I am grateful to my colleague Dr. Goncalves for her work and the professional legacy she left behind after her departure, but also to all my current collaborators for their support, understanding and patience too."