National Laboratory Animal Center

The National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC) is a research institute in Taiwan which is part of the National Applied Research Laboratories.

National Laboratory Animal Center
Established1994
OwnerMinistry of Science and Technology
Location,
Coordinates25°02′46″N 121°36′34″E / 25.0461°N 121.6094°E / 25.0461; 121.6094

History edit

The National Laboratory Animal Center was established in 1994 as the first large scale domestic supplier of specific pathogen free (SPF) laboratory rodents. In June 2003 it was brought under the umbrella of the National Applied Research Laboratories.[1] NLAC supports Taiwan's biomedical industry.[2]

In 2015 NLAC succeeded in breeding their first advanced severe immuno deficiency (ASID) mouse which they established a commercial line off of. The mice cost NT$3,000 to produce which was a significant savings over imported mice from the US and Japan which cost between NT$15,000 and NT$30,000.[3]

Facilities edit

In 2019 NLAC inaugurated a new NT$2 billion (US$64.64 million) research center built in Taipei's National Biotechnology Research Park.[4] As well as being a research center the new facility also serves as a repository for the fertilized eggs of rare mice. As of 2019 the repository held 830,000 fertilized eggs.[5]

NLAC operates a preclinical testing lab at the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park and a preclinical animal care and surgery facility at the Southern Taiwan Science Park.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "About". www.nlac.org.tw. NLAC. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. ^ Ferry, Timothy (25 September 2019). "Will Biotech be the Next Trillion NT Dollar Industry?". topics.amcham.com.tw. American Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  3. ^ Wei-han, Chen (12 November 2015). "NARL breeds immunodeficient mouse". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. ^ Tzu-ti, Huang (18 January 2019). "State-of-the-art animal laboratory opens in Taipei". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  5. ^ and Chung Yu-chen, Liu Lee-jung (17 January 2019). "NARLabs launches National Laboratory Animal Center". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  6. ^ Chia-nan, Lin (25 March 2020). "Animal imaging system could help humans". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 March 2020.