Introduction to the Laboratory Animal Facility at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
The Laboratory Animal Facility at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (hereinafter referred to as the " Laboratory Animal Facility ") was established in 2021. It serves as the central laboratory platform of our university. The laboratory obtained the Guangdong Province Laboratory Animal Use License in June 2024 and was officially put into use in November 2024. The Laboratory Animal Facility has established five major platforms: a breeding and operations platform, an embryo transfer and purification platform, a veterinary testing platform, a behavioral services and instrument platform, and a facility maintenance platform. These platforms effectively ensure the health and welfare of both personnel and animals, providing high-quality, one-stop support services for scientific research. The laboratory upholds the "HKUST One, Twin-Campus Complementarity" philosophy and can also serve sister institutions, research organizations, and the industry, promoting the development of life science research.
Located at No. 1 Duxue Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, in Building E4 of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), the Laboratory Animal Facility is equipped with advanced instruments and technology. The facilities are designed, constructed, and managed in accordance with welfare requirements for both personnel and animals. With a total area of nearly 6,000 square meters, the first phase, completed in 2024, covers approximately 3,300 square meters. It can provide about 12,000 SPF mouse and rat cage spaces, around 320 rabbit and guinea pig cage spaces, and four sets of Xenopus breeding systems.
The laboratory features the world's first open-air science popularization corridor, designed to present visitors with advanced experimental animal technology and equipment, as well as rigorous and scientific management methods for laboratory animals. Through the aerial science popularization corridor, visitors can gain an immersive and comprehensive understanding of the entire process, including the operation of animal facilities, the cleaning and disinfection of cages and equipment, animal breeding, and animal experiments.
