This project has been archived.

Behavioral Endpoints

Problem Statement

Changes in behavior, such as depression, lethargy, and alterations in routine/normal activity are key indicators of illness and response to treatment in the clinical setting.  It is also likely that close monitoring and recording of behavior in animal models in preclinical studies can provide valuable data in assessing disease models, their response to treatment, and potential safety concerns.  Historically, behavior has not been commonly used in non-neurologic/behavior studies, as it is labor intensive and often regarded as being semi-quantitative or subjective.   Recent advances in automated laboratory animal behavior monitoring systems (ALABMS) provide the potential to overcome these hurdles.

Mission and Objectives

Enhance reproducibility and the translational relevance of animal studies ensuring their scientific impact and decreasing clinical attrition related to translational discordance.  Optimize endpoints and our ability to detect pain and distress in animals enhancing care and welfare practices.

 

Updated September 2021