1. Apply for an ethical approval of your research project in FOTS. For access to FOTS, contact the head of facility. All applications are sent to head of facility for a local evaluation before they are submitted to the authorities for processing.
2. Hand in an HSE declaration for the project. This is necessary to make sure your project is planned and performed in a safe manner. Send the declaration to the head of facility.
3. Fill in the first part of an Animal welfare evaluation form and send it to head of facility. You can find an example of a completed form here.
4. Set up a meeting with the animal facility if your project involves new procedures or if you want help from our technicians during your experiment. It is also important to discuss the follow-up of your animals in the more critical periods of your experiment. As a main rule, the researcher is responsible for postoperative monitoring of the animals, including health checks and medications in evenings and weekends when necessary.
5. When your project is approved in FOTS, you may order your animals. For more information, see Important information and facility rules. Please inform us if you have specific housing requirements. 
6. Register in Bookitlab, our bookingsystem, and in MLIMS, our animal colony management system. Contact the facility for assistance. The staff will register your animals in MLIMS at arrival. 
7. Book the necessary labs and equipment using Bookitlab.

SOP: Project start-up at CoMed