LARC Mission and Philosophy

The Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC) is committed to providing TTUHSC faculty, staff, and students with high quality, cost-effective research animal resources.  In addition to suitable housing facilities and animal husbandry services for animals used in biomedical research, LARC provides veterinary and personnel training and expertise in laboratory animal technology and medicine.  The LARC is dedicated to providing the highest quality animal resource to support the University's research and teaching goals, to promote and assure humane care and use of animals through compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, AAALAC International, and University policies for the humane care and use of animals.  The LARC advises and educates researchers, staff, and students on animal experimentation issues, promoting best practices for the responsible use of animals.  These actions result in quality science merging with animal welfare.

Our primary concern is the welfare of the animals used in the facility.  We maintain vigilance in ensuring that the animals experience proper care and handling with minimal discomfort or pain, as well as live in an enriching environment.  We adopt and abide by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine’s Position Statement regarding animal experimentation.