Animal Resource Facility

ARF Mission

The primary function of the ARF is to assist investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.

This is achieved by development and maintenance of a comprehensive, high quality animal care and use program, which is AAALAC accredited and complies with all Federal, State and Local laws pertaining to Laboratory Animal Research.

Description

The UNM HSC maintains  40,000 sq.ft. of animal resource facility (ARF), directed by Kevin O'Hair, DVM who is board certified in the College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) and a faculty member of the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine.  The ARF is located on the contiguous ground floor of the Basic Medical Sciences Building (BMSB) and the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF). The ARF is maintained as a specific pathogen free (SPF) facility essential for current, state of the science research, and contains specialized barrier facilities for breeding laboratory mice. The ARF also provides technical and veterinary support for all educational and research projects utilizing laboratory animals. The ARF encompasses animal housing areas and special use areas such as treatment rooms, procedural laboratories, a imaging area, biohazardous and chemical exposure research areas, surgery suites and barrier rodent housing rooms. Animal care is provided by Dr. O'Hair, an Operations Manager and a staff of five certified laboratory animal technicians.

Specialized Facilities:
1. Biohazard (BSL) facilities
2. Barrier
3. Hazardous Chemical Exposure facility
4. Surgery
5. Procedure labs
6. Necropsy
7. Imaging