The COVID-19 global pandemic disrupted animal research programs and day-to-day animal facilities operations nationwide. New challenges created by the pandemic also hindered research progress necessary to advance science toward ending the pandemic. Infectious disease researchers and laboratory animal research communities faced steep learning curves while coordinating institutional animal research responses. This workshop will cover lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for the laboratory animal research stakeholder community, including institutional-level barriers and proven, as well as additional potential solutions for rapid and sustained responses. Strategies will be discussed to further advance scientific and medical progress during emerging infectious disease events.