Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The presence of acute and chronic stressors during embryonic development influences how organisms respond as adults. Recent work has shown that stressors affect multiple generations. To better understand the impact of these challenges, we need to have a greater knowledge of their mode of action across generations. The overarching goal of our research group is to use principles of developmental biology and physiology, to better understand the interaction of stress exposure with the growth, development and metabolic axes in both male and female zebrafish. Our collaborative transdisciplinary team includes an expert in fish physiology and multigenerational effects of stressors (Birceanu) and a developmental biologist who focuses on cell-to-cell communication and cell differentiation (Kelly). This partnership has been established for the past three years and has transformed into a collaboration that shares our common interests in transdisciplinary research and in supporting a diverse population of students through our shared laboratory spaces. Our collaboration has a solid mentorship basis, with an early career researcher female lead in a traditionally male-dominated discipline. Together, our NSERC-funded research investigates how stressors impact development long-term, from cell-signaling to whole animal responses. A major gap in understanding the effects of stressors is a lack of information on their multigenerational effects, particularly when exposure occurs during early development. The zebrafish is a powerful model to answer these questions due to its well characterized developmental stages and short generation time. Multigenerational effects can often be transmitted along a parental lineage (either through the mother or the father), but that can only be identified if individual lineages are followed to adulthood. To do so, we urgently need to expand our zebrafish holding system, to house multiple lineages. In addition, long-term sub-lethal effects can be assessed by exploring impacts on individual organelles involved in cell function. The Oroboros O2K-FluoRespirometer is one such instrument that will allow us to explore effects on mitochondrial function, reactive oxygen species production and cell metabolism, at different life-stages, all of which are directly related to our NSERC-funded research. In addition, we have ongoing collaborations with the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute at Queen's University, Children's Health Research Institute at Western University, and colleagues in both departments whose research and HQP would benefit from our fish facility and equipment. The requested equipment will create unique opportunities to support HQP training at Western, with a focus on multigenerational and sub-cellular effects of stressors in zebrafish. The emphasis on development will support our ongoing collaborations and will give trainees an opportunity to develop and lead transdisciplinary research across multiple organizations.