Animal and Veterinary Service Program

(Formerly Laboratory Animal Service)

Laboratory Animal Service
Mission Statement

Laboratory Animal Service (LAS) fulfills three functions: 1) provision of veterinary services by the Office of the University Veterinarian; 2) operating the vivarium; and 3) training of personnel, in support of research, teaching, and other activities involving vertebrate animals at the University of Hawaii (UH). LAS provides its services in accordance with all Federal, State, and local requirements for the humane care and use of animals.

  1. The Office of the University Veterinarian (UV) has System-wide responsibilities for overseeing the health and well-being and clinical care of all vertebrate animals used by the institution, as required by United States federal law. As such the Office of the UV provides at least at least quarterly to semi-annual scheduled visits to facilities where vertebrate animals are housed or used for research or training. The Office of the UV may provide veterinary care for animals used on specific protocols.

  2. LAS operates the vivariums and provides daily care of animals used for biomedical and neurosciences research and training on the UH Manoa campus and at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at Kakaako.

  3. LAS helps fulfill the federal mandate that personnel involved with care and use of vertebrate animals are adequately trained, and/or qualified in the basic principles of animal care and use to ensure quality research and animal well-being. As such LAS provides training of personnel using or caring for animals at the UH.