Large Animal Research and Care Center (LARC)
Unifying agricultural and medical expertise in large animal research and care
The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences at the University of Bonn have jointly submitted a proposal under the BMBF call for the prioritization of major research infrastructures. The aim is to establish an interdisciplinary research center that will improve access to large animal research and optimize study designs, in order to advance and promote translational medical research and agricultural sustainability, with a particular focus on animal welfare.
To integrate agricultural and medical expertise in large animal research, the proposal envisions the construction of a cutting-edge research infrastructure on the Frankenforst campus. This facility will include administration and research buildings comprising:
- operating theaters,
- imaging technologies such as MRI, CT, and PET-CT,
- ultrasound equipment,
- laboratory spaces, and
- high-tech housing facilities for pigs, cattle, small ruminants, and alpacas.
The project is currently under evaluation as part of the national prioritization process for large-scale research infrastructures coordinated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). A decision on whether the project will be included in the official shortlist is expected in summer 2025. At the beginning of each legislative period, the shortlist is presented to policymakers, who—depending on the political focus of the period—select 3 to 7 projects for funding (expected in autumn 2025).
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Zimmer Head of the Interventional Cardiology Section
Venusberg-Campus 1
53127 Bonn
Dr. Susanne Plattes Advisor - Research and career development
Meckenheimer Allee 172
53115 Bonn