Program overview
Laboratory Animal Science might sound a bit niche, but it's actually the "unsung hero" of the biomedical field. Simply put, this major focuses on how to scientifically raise, manage, and use laboratory animals (such as mice, rats, zebrafish, monkeys, etc.), and leverage them to simulate human diseases and test drug efficacy. Core courses include laboratory animal genetics, nutrition, microbiology, pathology, animal behavior, and animal experimentation techniques. You'll also learn about animal welfare ethics and GLP (Good Laboratory Practice)—which are especially important in multinational pharmaceutical companies and CROs. Chinese universities have unique advantages in this field: for example, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University have world-leading gene-edited mouse resource banks, attracting many international students specifically for these platforms. This major is suitable for students who enjoy hands-on work, are curious about life sciences, and are meticulous and patient. If you don't mind working with small animals and want a technically skilled job at the forefront of biomedicine, it's definitely worth considering.