Kolkata, May 3 (IANS): The Bose Institute's state-of-the-art animal house and research facility is set to supply strains of small laboratory animals for research to the scientific community of east and northeast India.

The Central Animal House and Research Facility for Developmental and Toxicology Research, located at the Institute's Acharya J.C. Bose Biotechnology Innovation Centre in Madhyamgram in North 24-Parganas, was inaugurated on Saturday by union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan.

According to the institute, the facility, spread over an area of 15,000 sq. feet, has all facilities for breeding, maintenance, and experimentation on small laboratory animals.

"The main objective of the centre is to supply defined strains of laboratory animals like mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits for bio-medical research to the scientific community of the eastern and northeastern part of India," the institute said in a statement.

The centre will be utilised for experimental research in accordance with the principles of good laboratory practices and the guidelines of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), ministry of environment, forests and climate change.

"Further, it facilitates research and development in partnership with academic institutions, industries and funding agencies for drug discovery-cum-validation and devices of translational medical research with the basic objective of advancement of biological knowledge which is useful for saving the lives and/or alleviating the suffering of human beings, animals and plants," the institute said.

It stressed on performing such experiments with due care so as to minimise the pain inflicted on animals.

At the launch of the centre, the minister directed the institute to come up with a plan to mark its centenary in 2017 in a special manner and devise a strategy for the future.