COST TEATIME: A Four-Year Journey in Revolutionizing Home Cage Monitoring

Executive Summary

After four years of groundbreaking research and collaboration, the COST Action “Improving biomedical research by automated behaviour monitoring in the animal home-cage” (TEATIME) is reaching its final milestone with a conference in Helsinki on September 2-3, 2025 ^[1]^[2]. What began as a proposal written during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 has evolved into one of Europe’s most significant collaborative networks in laboratory animal science, bringing together over 120 researchers from 34 countries ^[3].

Origins and Vision

TEATIME emerged from a critical recognition in the field of laboratory animal research. Traditional behavioral assessments, which involved removing animals from their home cages for testing in unfamiliar environments, were increasingly recognized as potentially stressful and inadequate for capturing the full spectrum of animal behavior ^[4]^[5]. The consortium was founded by 58 researchers in 23 countries with the ambitious goal of developing automated home-cage monitoring (HCM) technologies that would allow 24/7 observation of laboratory rodents in their familiar environments ^[6]^[4].

The project’s vision was multifaceted: to improve animal welfare through refined experimental conditions, enhance data reproducibility and reliability, and ultimately advance the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in animal research ^[4]^[7]. By monitoring animals continuously within their home cages, researchers could capture more accurate representations of natural behavior and physiological responses ^[8].

Organizational Structure and Working Groups

TEATIME was structured around five specialized working groups, each addressing critical aspects of home cage monitoring:

Working Group 1: Identifying, Gathering, and Co-ordinating Community Requirements for HCM
Led by Anna Kiryk with co-leads Marthe Schmit and Aleksandra Bartelik, this group focused on understanding the needs of the research community and conducting comprehensive surveys to assess current usage and future requirements of HCM technologies ^[9].

Working Group 2: Current Status of HCM
Under the leadership of Ewelina Knapska and co-lead Silvia Mandillo, this group was responsible for cataloging existing home cage monitoring systems and conducting systematic reviews of the field ^[10]. Their work resulted in a comprehensive analysis of 521 publications spanning from 1974 to 2020, demonstrating remarkable growth in HCM-related research ^[11].

Working Group 3: Development of New Technologies, Analysis Tools, and Databases
Led by Jan Rozman with co-leads Sonia Bains, Hamish Forrest, and Marion Rivalan, this group focused on technological advancement and data analysis tool development, including the creation of harmonized terminology and standardized approaches to data processing.

Working Group 4: Training and Knowledge Transfer
Under Lior Bikovski’s leadership with co-leads Anna Olsson and Alice Melloni, this group organized training schools and educational initiatives to disseminate knowledge and build capacity within the research community ^[12].

Working Group 5: Communication, Engagement, and Dissemination
Led by Maša Čater with co-lead Lars Lewejohann, this group managed the Action’s communication strategy, social media presence, and scientific dissemination activities ^[13].

Major Scientific Achievements

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

One of TEATIME’s most significant contributions was the completion of a comprehensive systematic review examining the development and application of home cage monitoring in laboratory mice and rats ^[8]^[11]. This landmark study analyzed 521 publications and revealed that both absolute and relative numbers of HCM-related publications increased dramatically from 1974 to 2020 – with approximately 26-fold and 7-fold increases respectively ^[11].

The review identified several important trends:

A clear shift from manual to automated monitoring techniques since the 2000s^[11]
Increasing use of both sexes and group housing in recent studies (2011-2020)^[11]
Growing application of artificial intelligence and machine learning for more refined behavioral parameter analysis^[11]
Extended monitoring periods, with 24-hour measurements becoming more frequent since the 2000s^[11]

Technology Cataloging and Assessment

Working Group 2 developed a comprehensive catalog of existing home cage monitoring systems, creating an interactive database that detailed the capabilities, limitations, and applications of various technologies ^[13]. This resource became invaluable for researchers seeking to select appropriate monitoring systems for their specific research needs ^[10].

Survey and Community Assessment

The consortium conducted an extensive survey campaign that attracted 279 responses from 37 countries, providing unprecedented insights into the current state and future needs of the HCM community ^[9]. This survey, launched at the FELASA 2022 conference, gathered data from academics, facility managers, industry professionals, and funding organizations ^[13].

Development of TheBehaviourForum.org

A significant innovation was the creation of TheBehaviourForum.org, an online platform for discussing experimental methods in animal behavior research ^[14]^[15]^[16]. This forum, developed specifically for the TEATIME community but with broader applications, provides a space for researchers to share knowledge, troubleshoot experiments, and discuss best practices ^[17]. The platform has become a valuable resource for the global research community, fostering collaboration across disciplines and geographic boundaries ^[17].

Training and Capacity Building

TEATIME organized multiple training schools that provided hands-on experience with various home cage monitoring systems. The Second TEATIME Advanced Training School, held at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin in June 2024, exemplified the consortium’s commitment to education ^[12]. These schools covered experimental design, psychiatric and cognitive assessment, application to welfare and the 3Rs, and included practical workshops on building prototype devices using 3D printing and microelectronics ^[12].

The training programs reached 24 students in the first year alone, providing opportunities to learn from TEATIME experts how to reliably assess rodent behavior and welfare ^[7]. These educational initiatives were crucial for building the next generation of researchers skilled in home cage monitoring technologies ^[7].

Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)

The Action facilitated numerous Short-Term Scientific Missions, offering grants of up to €4,000 each for research visits ranging from 5 days to 3 months ^[18]^[19]. These missions enabled researchers to visit laboratories in other countries, learn new techniques, and access specialized facilities not available in their home institutions ^[19]. The STSMs were particularly valuable for young researchers under 40 years old, providing international mobility and learning opportunities ^[18].

Scientific Dissemination and Impact

TEATIME maintained a robust presence at major scientific conferences throughout its duration. The consortium presented at numerous high-profile events including:

Measuring Behavior 2022^[13]
Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference 2022^[13]
FELASA 2022^[7]^[13]
FENS Forum 2022^[13]
Society for Neuroscience conferences^[20]

The Action also organized its own specialized meetings, including “The Pathway to Automation – from Home Cages to Welfare” in Brussels in September 2024, which brought together 41 experts from 13 countries to discuss animal welfare applications of home cage monitoring ^[21].

Innovation in Animal Welfare Assessment

A particularly significant development was TEATIME’s exploration of how home cage monitoring could be used to measure and improve animal welfare ^[21]. The consortium identified various biomarkers that could be used to automatically assess animal welfare, including:

Body weight monitoring^[21]
Temperature changes^[21]
Respiratory rate assessment^[21]
Urination patterns^[21]
Complex behavioral analyses using deep learning solutions^[21]

The work also explored lessons learned from automated behavioral observation of larger animals such as pigs and cattle, applying these insights to rodent monitoring ^[21].

Data Management and FAIR Principles

TEATIME addressed the critical issue of data management in home cage monitoring, emphasizing the importance of implementing FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability)^[21]. The consortium worked on developing standards for data collection, naming, sorting, storage, and metadata provision ^[21].

Publications and Research Outputs

Beyond the major systematic review, TEATIME members produced numerous scientific publications and research outputs. The consortium’s work contributed to advancing the field’s understanding of:

Optimal experimental designs for home cage monitoring^[5]
Statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal behavioral data^[5]
Integration of multiple monitoring modalities^[5]
Standardization of behavioral terminology and ontologies^[22]

Network Growth and International Collaboration

The consortium experienced remarkable growth from its initial 58 founding researchers to over 120 researchers from 34 countries by 2022 ^[7]^[3]. This expansion demonstrated the international recognition of TEATIME’s importance and the growing interest in home cage monitoring technologies worldwide.

Final Conference: “The TEATIME Journey – Shaping the Future of Lab Animal Monitoring”

The Action’s culminating event is scheduled for September 2-3, 2025, in Helsinki, Finland ^[1]^[2]. This final conference will bring together experts in biomedical research, animal behavior, laboratory animal science, and data science to:

Reflect on the consortium’s achievements over four years^[1]
Share insights and latest developments^[1]
Explore future directions in non-invasive, 24/7 behavioral monitoring in rodents^[1]
Discuss refinement of experimental conditions and improvement of animal welfare^[1]
Address enhancement of translatability and data reproducibility^[1]

Legacy and Future Impact

TEATIME’s four-year journey has fundamentally transformed the landscape of home cage monitoring in laboratory animal research. The consortium has:

Established Scientific Foundation: Created the most comprehensive systematic review of HCM literature, providing a solid evidence base for future research^[8]^[11].
Built Global Network: Connected researchers across Europe and beyond, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange^[3].
Developed Resources: Created practical tools including technology catalogs, training materials, and the TheBehaviourForum.org platform^[10]^[15].
Advanced Technology: Promoted the development and validation of new monitoring systems and analytical approaches^[22].
Educated Next Generation: Trained numerous young researchers through schools, STSMs, and collaborative projects^[12].
Improved Animal Welfare: Advanced the application of the 3Rs principles through refined monitoring approaches^[4]^[7].
Enhanced Data Quality: Promoted standardization and reproducibility in behavioral research^[5].

Conclusion

As TEATIME approaches its conclusion in September 2025, the Action stands as a remarkable example of successful European scientific collaboration. From its origins during the COVID-19 pandemic to its evolution into a major international network, TEATIME has significantly advanced the field of home cage monitoring and established a foundation for future innovations in laboratory animal science.

The consortium’s comprehensive approach – combining systematic research, technology development, education, and international collaboration – has created lasting impact that extends far beyond the four-year funding period. The resources, networks, and knowledge generated by TEATIME will continue to benefit the research community for years to come, ultimately contributing to better science and improved animal welfare in biomedical research.

The final conference in Helsinki will mark not an end, but a transition – from a funded consortium to a self-sustaining community of researchers committed to advancing the field of automated home cage monitoring. The tools, relationships, and knowledge created through TEATIME provide a solid foundation for continued progress toward the goal of more humane, accurate, and reproducible animal research.

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