Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) at Indiana University-Bloomington provides comprehensive animal care facilities and select research support services. We maintain specialized facilities, equipment, and infrastructure essential for animal housing, husbandry, and research activities. Our well-maintained facilities offer researchers dedicated spaces and equipment to conduct their studies while upholding the highest standards of animal welfare.
LAR operates in full compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (AWA), the PHS Policy, and all applicable federal regulations. The department adheres to policies established by the Bloomington Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (BIACUC) and undergoes regular oversight from external organizations. These include the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), a private nonprofit that promotes humane treatment of research animals through voluntary accreditation and triennial program assessments, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which conducts unannounced annual inspections to verify compliance with Animal Welfare Regulations.
All LAR procedures follow departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Laboratory staff must complete facility orientation and safety training before handling animals or conducting research procedures. Investigators and their staff must comply with established protocols to ensure both animal and personnel safety. Workspace, equipment, and services can be scheduled through the iLab electronic system.
LAR is committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and data protection. LAR staff will access confidential information only as necessary for their role, refrain from disclosing confidential information to unauthorized individuals, use university approved secure methods for storing and transmitting confidential data, and report any suspected breaches of confidentiality immediately.
The LAR Director and senior administrative team will collaborate with investigators and their lab members to address any issues or complaints that arise. If a mutually satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, the matter will be referred to the Associate Vice President for Research Compliance for further guidance.
LAR rates are reviewed and approved annually by the Vice President for Research and are also reviewed by the LAR Advisory Committee each year.
To process animal orders, supply purchases, and service requests through iLab, an account number must be provided. Invoices are issued monthly—per diem charges are generated through Topaz, while service-related charges are processed via iLab.
Investigators and fiscal officers have three (3) business days to review and request any changes to invoices before final billing is submitted.
Projects are generally prioritized on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, scheduling may be adjusted to accommodate investigator deadlines when necessary and able. In the event of an unexpected delay, the investigator will be promptly notified.
We request that the Laboratory for Animal Research (LAR) be acknowledged in all publications that utilize data generated through departmental resources. Additionally, a copy of each publication should be provided to LAR to support reporting requirements for our oversight committee.
When LAR staff contribute intellectually to the development of experimental approaches, manuscript writing (beyond providing standard methodological descriptions), or data interpretation, co-authorship should be offered in accordance with standard academic practices. The use of a recharge mechanism does not substitute for authorship recognition.
“Animal studies were conducted in core Laboratory Animal Resources facilities at Indiana University in Bloomington”.
