Rodent Model Resource Center – The First Rodent Resource Repository in Taiwan

The National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC) is a non-profit organization established in 1994. Originally, NLAC was the first organization that served as a large-scale supplier of specific pathogen free laboratory rodents in Taiwan. To further serve the domestic research and to elevate resource quality, NLAC founded the Rodent Mouse Resource Center (RMRC) which began its operation in 2009. RMRC acts as an international non-profit core center dedicate in the deposition, archive, and distribution of genetically modified (GM) rodent resources. To promote RMRC services, all repository activities are connected with existing services provided in NLAC. Integrated service platform including; cryopreservation, rederivation, assisted reproductive technology, health monitoring, phenotyping, breeding and housing services. To enrich the resource accessibility, RMRC also helps researchers to allocate and assist importation as well as the exportation of unique GM rodents.

As a national repository and distribution center for GM rodents, RMRC has constructed a searchable online database of available GM rodent resource. For better resource connection, RMRC also devote actively in international alliance. NLAC is the founding member of Asia Mouse Mutagenesis and Resource Association (AMMRA). The mission of AMMRA is to promote the mouse mutagenesis projects and to facilitate access to mouse resources in Asia. In addition, RMRC has participated in the International Mouse Strain Resource (IMSR), a global one-stop shop of mouse strains. The ultimate goal is to enforce RMRC role to support biomedical research community through global partnership.

In order to support research more, NLAC is funded by National Science Council (NSC) to devote further in the generation of novel GM rodents. As a result, RMRC provides the complete GM rodent resource services from generation, deposition, archive and sharing. Through the efforts, along with active promotion, efficient use of GM resources is expected in Taiwan.