Field Training Session for Veterinary Medicine Students at the State Scientific-Control Institute of Biotechnology and Strains of Microorganisms (SSIBSM)

6th-year Master’s students of the Veterinary Medicine program at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of NULES of Ukraine, specializing in Veterinary Pharmacy, had a unique opportunity to participate in a field training session held at the State Scientific-Control Institute of Biotechnology and Strains of Microorganisms (SSIBSM). The event was organized and accompanied by Associate Professors Hryhorii Boiko and Vadym Ishchenko from the Department of Vertebrate Physiology and Pharmacology, along with Volodymyr Chumachenko, Chief Researcher at SSIBSM.

Before the session began, the students were given a guided tour of the Institute. The future veterinary doctors became acquainted with the core areas of SSIBSM’s work, including research in biotechnology, development and quality control of veterinary immunobiological products (VIPs), laboratory capacities, and modern equipment. Special attention was paid to standardization and metrology processes in veterinary medicine.

The main part of the training was delivered by Volodymyr Chumachenko, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Senior Researcher, and Chief Researcher of the Department for Scientific Support of Standardization, Metrology, and Conformity Assessment at SSIBSM. The topic of the session — "State Control and Oversight of the Quality of Veterinary Immunobiological Products Used in Ukraine. Preventing Unauthorized Distribution of Veterinary Drugs" — is of particular relevance for future veterinary pharmacy professionals.
During the session, students received detailed information on:

• The legal and regulatory framework for the production, registration, certification, and distribution of VIPs in Ukraine
• Methods of state control and laboratory testing used for evaluating product quality
• Key challenges and risks associated with counterfeit veterinary drugs
• Mechanisms for preventing unauthorized circulation of VIPs in Ukraine
• The role of veterinary pharmacy in ensuring the safe and effective use of immunobiological products for animals

This experience allowed students not only to deepen their theoretical knowledge but also to gain valuable practical insights, explore the real-life work of a scientific institution, and become familiar with the operations of specialized laboratories. The knowledge acquired will enable future professionals to more effectively perform their roles in veterinary pharmacy and quality control of veterinary medicines.

The students expressed their sincere gratitude to the organizers for the opportunity to visit a leading scientific-control institute and to learn from experienced practitioners. They emphasized that such events are essential for their professional development, as they help them better understand modern standards for veterinary products and the state’s role in ensuring their quality.
This field session once again confirmed the importance of collaboration between scientific institutions and educational establishments in providing high-quality training for future veterinary medicine specialists.

Olena Zhurenko,
Head of the Department of Physiology of Vertebrates and Pharmacology
Hryhorii Boiko,
Associate Professor, Department of Physiology of Vertebrates and Pharmacology