Director's Welcome
The Laboratory Animal Resources unit of the CVM is a service department responsible for the research and teaching animals in the CVM; its goals and objectives are in the LAR Mission Statement and Values. LAR staff are committed to customer service at all levels, including animal husbandry, facilities design and maintenance, veterinary care, technical services and training, and consultation and collaboration with faculty and staff on animal models, biomethodology, and regulatory compliance. We want to get it right all the time, and seek your feedback in accomplishing these goals.
Richard E. Fish, Director of Laboratory Animal Resources
Mission Statement
The mission of LAR is to provide NCSU faculty with optimal animal resources at the least practical cost. The term "animal resources" includes not only animal housing facilities, but also animal husbandry services, veterinary care, technical services, expertise in laboratory animal technology and medicine, and assurance of compliance with regulatory requirements and institutional policies for animal care and use. LAR is responsible for assisting faculty in conducting animal experimentation in keeping with these standards, and is committed to assuring the well-being of experimental animals while providing services that facilitate their humane and judicious use.
The objectives of the LAR unit include:
- Provide cost effective support for routine maintenance of CVM research and teaching animals.
- Provide competent, timely veterinary care for CVM research and teaching animals.
- Provide competent, courteous technical support for procedures using animals.
- Minimize unwanted experimental variation by control of the animal environment, animal health and well-being
- Consult and collaborate with CVM researchers on animal model development and maintenance, and experimental methodologies.
- Provide training and instruction to CVM researchers and animal care staff in the appropriate care and use of the research and teaching animals.
- Promote and seek resources for improvements, renovations and expansion of laboratory animal facilities, and additions to equipment, to meet research and teaching needs.
- Maintain accreditation by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care- International (AAALAC).
- Ensure compliance with the animal care regulations of the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
LAR Values
As members of the CVM Laboratory Animal Resources unit, we strive to achieve the following behaviors:
Customer Service
We demonstrate customer service by: consistently providing high quality animal care and research support, in a timely manner, while being courteous and responsive in our customer interactions.
Respect for Animals
We demonstrate respect for animals by: Acknowledging the privilege of working with laboratory animals, following standard procedures for animal care and welfare, and improving animal well-being through compassionate human interaction and environmental enrichment .
Professional Integrity
We demonstrate professional integrity by: Knowing our job, being accountable and responsible for the quality of our work, and treating our co-workers with honesty and respect.
Teamwork
We demonstrate teamwork by: Having good attendance and maintaining a positive attitude, while coordinating efforts and sharing workload and skills with others.
Communication
We demonstrate communication by: Listening carefully and providing timely and constructive feedback in order to improve relationships and performance.
Professional Development
We demonstrate professional development by: Learning continuously; sharing and improving skills necessary to ensure a productive work environment, through LAR/CPL opportunities, NCSU courses, AALAS certification and other professional activities.