Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

A multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in studying development, neurosciences physiology, toxicology, pharmacology, virology and behaviour in zebrafish is requesting funds for the purchase of an automated high-resolution video tracking and analysis system. Specifically, the requested state-of-the-art video-tracking system (Ramona MCAM) will be used to evaluate zebrafish morphology and behaviour at high resolution and high throughput. This innovative system will enable fast, unbiased, high throughput, accurate, and consistent video-aided measurements of a broad range of morphological and behavioural parameters to address both fundamental and applied questions in neurobiology, animal physiology, toxicology, pharmacology and virology. Specifically, the requested equipment will allow the applicants and their team to: 1) investigate molecular mechanisms in neuronal development in zebrafish and 2) investigate the effects of virus infection, biomaterials and endocrine disruptors on the development, neurodevelopment, physiology and behaviour of zebrafish larvae. Our HQP will be provided with an invaluable opportunity for the cutting-edge training needed for their respective research areas as well as in high-resolution imaging and complex behavioural data analysis. They will be highly sought after by academia, government, or industry research departments as research using zebrafish becomes more significant for biomedical modelling of disease, drug screening, and toxicological studies.