• Provide the highest standard of care for animals used in research and education at Iowa State University, and
• To support investigators by reducing experimental variables due to stress and disease in animal models.

To carry out this mission LAR offers the following services:  

• Comprehensive veterinary care program for animals used in research and teaching 
• Training in experimental techniques for faculty, staff, and students
• Perform, or assist in performing, experimental techniques as arranged
• Procurement of animals from approved sources
• Animal housing in conventional, isolation and containment environments
• Daily husbandry in main campus and south campus animal facilities, and Animal Resource Station
• Animal transportation as arranged

It is recommended that faculty contact LAR ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) during the planning of projects that will involve the use of animals.  The University Attending Veterinarian, Dr. Mary Sauer, and LAR veterinarians are available for consultation, particularly for projects that may involve animal pain or distress.   Animal housing space and equipment are not assigned until a project has been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); however, informing LAR of project needs in advance may help to avoid delays when the project is approved.   It is important to note that IACUC approval of a project is not a guarantee that appropriate housing space and equipment is immediately available for the project.  Also, LAR does not accept leased animals unless the lease agreement has been approved by LAR.