N-FLARE
National Facilities for Large Animal Research
N-FLARE (National Facilities for Large Animal REsearch) is a nationwide collaboration of five academic centers, joining forces to advance biomedical research and innovation through the use of large animal models. With four operating nodes, N-FLARE pools unique surgical, imaging, training, and housing facilities to support cutting-edge research, medical innovation, and clinical training. By sharing knowledge, equipment, and expertise, N-FLARE ensures high-quality, responsible animal research while fostering collaboration across institutions. This joint effort helps develop and test tomorrow’s medical treatments in a setting that mirrors real-life clinical situations, benefiting both human and animal health.
Infrastructure and User Services
N-FLARE is a cutting-edge multi-center research infrastructure dedicated to advancing large animal research through shared, state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, and services. All partners boast comprehensive facilities that include secure animal housing, dedicated treatment rooms, standard and hybrid operating rooms, intensive care and recovery units, advanced imaging units (featuring MRI, ultrasound, PET/CT) and fully equipped skills laboratories. Radboudumc and Maastricht UMC+ further enhance the network with specialized farm housing options.
In Utrecht, the presence of the only veterinary medicine clinic provides advanced imaging modalities for large animals (MRI, CT, PET) including specialized staff and technical specialists. The infrastructure at CLARF is exemplified by its specialized surgical facilities, which serve both large laboratory animals and rodents. Modern operating rooms provide full anesthesia monitoring—including blood gas analysis—and advanced imaging via mobile and fixed C-arm systems. The hybrid operating room at CLARF, designed for late-stage preclinical research, integrates clinical-grade X-ray equipment, including a Philips Allura FD20 C-arm with 3D reconstruction, power injection capabilities, 3D-ultrasonography, OCT, and integrated ECG monitoring. This facility supports direct oversight from a control room outfitted with multiple live displays, making it ideal for product demonstrations, clinician training, and early clinical trial preparation.
N-FLARE’s infrastructure not only enables high-quality research data collection and comprehensive animal study collections, but also delivers tailored services to users. These include expert biotechnical support, collaborative training programs in surgical skills and team performance under pressure, and ongoing adaptation to the latest advances in anesthesia, analgesia, and antibiotic protocols.
Examples/description of the type of research
The collaboration between large animal research facilities in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Nijmegen, and Maastricht—united under N-FLARE—will drive a wide range of innovative, translational research aimed at addressing major medical challenges. By combining expertise, equipment, and infrastructure, N-FLARE enables advanced studies in fields such as neuroscience, cardiovascular health, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, neonatology, and surgical innovation.
Large animal models are essential for bridging the gap between laboratory research and human clinical application. They allow researchers to study complex disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cardiac arrhythmias, and vascular diseases in systems that closely resemble human physiology. This is crucial for developing and validating new treatments, medical devices, and surgical techniques—including those involving robotics, anaesthesiology, and trauma care.
The infrastructure also supports high-level pediatric research, such as neonatal intensive care and in utero interventions, along with pioneering work in stem cell therapies, immune modulation, and organ regeneration. Facilities include hybrid operating rooms, advanced imaging (MRI, CT, PET), intensive care units, and skills labs for surgical training—fostering innovation while upholding the highest standards of animal welfare.
In addition to research, N-FLARE enables specialized training for surgical teams, combining technical skill development with team performance under clinical conditions. This strengthens preparedness for first-in-human procedures and clinical trials.
Together, these institutions provide a world-class, multi-site research platform that transforms scientific insights into safe, effective therapies—benefiting both human and veterinary medicine.
How to access the infrastructure?
Access to N-FLARE partner infrastructures is granted based on role and qualifications. Facility personnel have full access, while qualified researchers and technicians are granted access depending on their project needs. Experimental planning is coordinated in mutual agreement between researchers and facility management. Unqualified personnel may only enter under supervision. At Maastricht UMC+, access is granted to research groups based on the period of the experiment/work protocol.