In September (12-14/09/2022), our members are attending the 7th PolLASA national conference Animals in Scientific Research, organized by the Polish Society of Laboratory Animal Sciences and the Institute of Animals Sciences Warsaw University of Life Sciences.
They are going to present TEATIME with a poster entitled, “Automated behaviour monitoring in home-cage environment as an improvement in biomedical research”:
![Poster abstract:
Automated behaviour monitoring in home-cage environment as an improvement in biomedical research.
Ksenia Meyza1*, Aleksandra Bartelik2, Anna Kiryk1, Ewelina Knapska1 on behalf of COST TEATIME
1 Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland,
2. International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
*Corresponding author: k.meyza@nencki.edu.pl
Animal behaviour studies provide complex data permitting identification of evolutionarily conserved mechanisms enabling survival, development, reproduction and adaptation to the changing environment. They assess natural variability of behaviours as well as effects of genetic and environmental manipulations, and can be used to assess therapeutic strategies [1,2].
Classic tests are usually brief and often prone to factors reducing the replicability of results. Long term observation of animals in a stabilized social and living environment reduce that problem. One such approach is known as Home Cage Monitoring (HCM) [3,4]. Available HCM systems are based on weight sensors, infrared systems, electromagnetic detection, RFID system, telemetry and/or thermal vision and enable automatic recording of activity. By reducing human interference they improve reproducibility of experiments. HCM systems provide data describing social behaviour, stereotypies, learning and memory, physical activity, heart rate, food and water consumption. As a result, they permit better understanding of behavioural pathologies and are crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies with high translational potential.
Further development of HCM systems is essential for biomedical sciences. Therefore, a team of behaviourists started the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) - TEATIME action. Its aim is to evaluate available HCM systems and identify the demand for such technologies as well as search for solutions for handling of huge datasets, which will increase the reproducibility and validity of the research, leading to a reduction in the number of animals used and an improvement in their welfare, in line with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement ("3R").
The results of the team's work will include: a review of published research using HCM systems, preparation of guidelines for users, organization of training workshops and scientific exchange, awarding grants for the above activities. Scientists from 23 European countries participate in the action. Join us: https://www.cost-teatime.org/](https://www.cost-teatime.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TEATIME-PolLASA-abstract.jpg)