A staff of more than 80 professional, technical and administrative personnel provides quality animal care to a daily population of over 65,000 animals located in animal facilities on and off the UNC-CH campus. Federal funding and foundations sponsor over $60 million in essential animal research on the UNC-CH campus conducted by the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Pharmacy, as well as the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. Administratively the Division reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development.

The Division's program is reviewed semi-annually by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and has been accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) since 1973. DLAM and the University also meet U. S. Department of Agriculture and Public Health Service standards and regulations. A major responsibility of the Division's veterinarians, veterinary technicians and laboratory technicians is the health care and humane use of all animals. As laboratory animal specialists they provide a comprehensive program of veterinary care, offer technical advice and assistance, and provide needed laboratory and pathology services for diagnostic and research purposes. For a more in-depth description of the program see DLAM Veterinary and Technical Services.

More than sixty laboratory animal technicians provide humane animal care for animals located in the animal facilities. Their goal is to provide a humane, enriching environment for the animals under their charge, free from any variables that could compromise a research project. Select Animal Facilities and Animal Husbandry to learn more about our husbandry staff, facilities and procedures.

All orders for research animals from vendors or other institutions must be arranged through DLAM. Select Animal Ordering, Per Diem and Other Charges, Bar Coded Cage Cards and Billing.