Policy & Guidelines

The MIF is accessible to research groups from the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne (Unil); external academic institutions; and private organizations.

External academic institutions and private organizations are required to establish a contractual agreement through the University of Lausanne’s Technology Transfer Office (PACTT) before accessing MIF services.

In request services, researchers should contact MIF and provide a project description, study objectives, animal model requirements, and desired endpoints. Based on this information, the MIF team will prepare a customized proposal.

Once the proposal has been approved, a Request for Service Form must be signed by both the Principal Investigator and the MIF.

Research groups are encouraged to contact the MIF well in advance, as project timelines may vary depending on protocol complexity, animal models used, required resources and availability.

Fees vary depending on the services requested and the user’s affiliation.

• A preliminary cost estimate can be provided based on a description of the scientific objectives, the species involved, and the parameters to be assessed.
• A detailed customized proposal will be provided following submission of an application for services.

All data are generated, processed and reported in accordance with established quality procedures using trained personnel, validated methodologies, and regularly maintained equipment. The MIF team is available to discuss experimental design, study conduct, data interpretation and other aspects of the project as needed.

All project-related information is treated as confidential. Confidentiality agreements may be established when required.

Unless otherwise specified in contractual agreement, all study data remain the property of the researcher or research group. Such data may not be used by the MIF for independent research purposes without a formal written collaboration agreement between the researcher and the MIF.

Unless otherwise agreed, data are retained by the MIF for one month following completion of the study.

The MIF actively promotes the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (3Rs) in all experimental activities.

All studies are conducted in accordance with applicable animal welfare legislation, cantonal requirements and institutional policies and guidelines. MIF is committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare while supporting scientifically rigorous and reproducible research.

MIF applies Unil Directive 4.2 on Scientific Integrity, which is based on the guidelines of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (ASSM). Article 2.10, paragraph 2, states that an author of a scientific publication is a person who has made an essential scientific contribution to the research through its planning, execution, interpretation, or supervision. This approach is consistent with the authorship criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and other recognized scientific organizations.

In accordance with Unil Directive 4.2, MIF staff members who make a substantial scientific contribution to a project, such as through study design, experimental work, data analysis, or data interpretation, should be considered as co-authors on resulting publications. As co-authors, they should also participate in drafting or critically revising the manuscript and approve the final version prior to publication.  

When the criteria for authorship under Unil Directive 4.2 are not met, the contribution of the MIF should be recognized in the Acknowledgements. If the conditions of Directive 4.2 are not met, the MIF should appear only in the acknowledgements.

To ensure transparency and mutual understanding, authorship expectations should be discussed and agreed upon at the outset of the collaboration.

When referencing the MIF in publications, the facility’s full name and affiliation should be cited as follows:

“Microsurgery and Preclinical Investigation Facility, University of Lausanne, Switzerland”

To support manuscript preparation, the MIF will provide their users with:

• Descriptions of the materials and methods relevant to the services performed.
• Comprehensive supplementary tables in formats accepted by most scientific journals (.txt, .pdf or .xls).
• Raw data if required.

Where appropriate, MIF staff are available to discuss data interpretation and contribute to the preparation of manuscripts in accordance with the Authorship and Acknowledgements policy outlined above.

MIF Policy & Guidelines (link to PDF)

MIF Request for Service Form (link to PDF)