Ozgene’s assumption of operations at the Animal Resources Centre (ARC) in Perth marked a pivotal moment in Australian biomedical research. With over 20 years of expertise in mouse genetics and genomics, Ozgene is committed to providing high-quality animal care and research support to the scientific community at local, national, and international levels. In maintaining ARC’s 40-year legacy, the transition was made possible through a collaborative effort between Ozgene, the ARC, and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation in Western Australia. Significant investments in advanced equipment, animal housing, and the Geneoz Vivarium Management System prioritise animal welfare and biosecurity, ensuring improved living conditions for the animals and enhanced accuracy in research. Ozgene’s pursuit of AAALAC accreditation in the new facility in Technology Park further demonstrates its dedication to maintaining the highest standards of animal care.

Ozgene is excited to inform you that we have been selected to assume the operations of the Animal Resources Centre (ARC) in Perth, Western Australia. As a company with over 20 years of experience in the field of mouse genetics and genomics, we are well-equipped to take on this new endeavour and continue to provide world-class animal care and research support to the local, national and international scientific community.

For those unfamiliar with the ARC, it has been a critical resource for the biomedical research community in Australia and internationally for over 40 years. The ARC has a proud history of providing high-quality research animals, animal husbandry and veterinary services to support research projects in a variety of fields, including cancer research, neuroscience, infectious diseases and many others. Ozgene is working with the ARC and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) in Western Australia to facilitate a smooth transition process.

We at Ozgene understand the importance of animal research in advancing medical breakthroughs and improving human health. The acquisition of the ARC allows us to expand our services, infrastructure and expertise in animal resources to meet the needs of researchers in Australia and across the globe. Ozgene has a strong reputation for producing high-quality genetically modified mouse models that have been used in countless research projects worldwide. With the acquisition of the ARC, we can now offer a wider range of services to researchers, including the provision of standard mouse and rat strains and stock lines.

Ozgene is investing in updated equipment, infrastructure and technologies to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare and biosecurity, including the implementation of our proprietary Geneoz Vivarium Management System (VMS). Geneoz VMS is designed to provide efficient and effective husbandry and management of animals, ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare and research support.

The ARC animals will be moved into individually ventilated cages (IVC), which will provide improved environmental enrichment, temperature and humidity control, and disease prevention. We believe that these measures will greatly enhance the quality of life for the animals in our care and improve the accuracy and reproducibility of research outcomes.

Ozgene will initially be starting operations in the current ARC premises, but we are in active negotiations to secure and set up a new facility near Ozgene’s current premises in Technology Park, Perth. We anticipate moving to the new facility later this year, which will provide us with additional space, updated equipment and a more efficient workflow to meet the needs of researchers across the globe.

At Ozgene, we take animal welfare seriously and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal care and research support. As part of our efforts to ensure the highest level of animal welfare, we will be seeking AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) accreditation for the new facility in Technology Park.

AAALAC accreditation is a widely recognised accreditation program that demonstrates an institution’s commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare and care. It requires strict adherence to specific guidelines and best practices for the care and use of laboratory animals and regular evaluation to ensure continued compliance with these standards.

Ozgene’s facility in Indianapolis, IN, USA is already AAALAC accredited and we will be implementing the same systems and processes in our new facility in Technology Park. This will include stringent animal welfare protocols, such as regular health checks, environmental enrichment and compliance with animal welfare guidelines and regulations.

The transition of mouse and rat lines from ARC to Ozgene will be gradual, starting in March and completing in June, with a focus on transferring mouse and rat lines in a manner that minimises the disruption to ongoing research projects. We will start by selecting a few lines to test the new systems and then gradually build up to assuming all operations and animal lines by 1 June 2023.

There will be an overlap period where some lines can still be purchased at ARC while others will be available from Ozgene. Once the new ordering portal is finalised, the details will be available on our current website www.ozgene.com. We will also reach out to current ARC customers with new ordering instructions as strains become available. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and research support throughout the process.

We recognise that the scientific community relies on high-quality animal resources to conduct ground-breaking research and we are honoured to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of the ARC. We are excited to bring our expertise and infrastructure to the ARC and expand our support for researchers in a variety of fields.