Vivariums and Biosafety - Track A - Acquisition of equipment for automation and modernization of Zebrafish vivarium: advances in reproducibility, quality and research results with the Zebrafish model organism.

• Grant number: 25/11810-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Improvement of the Operational Infrastructure of Small-Animal Facilities and Biosafety
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Cristina Pereira
• Grantee: Lilian Cristina Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Botucatu
• Associated researchers: Benedito Barraviera ; Caio Antonio Carbonari ; Fábio Erminio Mingatto ; Fernando Barbosa Júnior ; Karine Cappuccio de Castro ; Mariana Gobbo Braz ; Rui Seabra Ferreira Junior ; Valeria Cristina Sandrim

Abstract

In 2015, the Botucatu School of Medicine (FMB/UNESP) established the Experimental Research Unit (UNIPEX) with the objective of providing state-of-the-art, multi-user infrastructure to support scientific research, enhance undergraduate and graduate education, and offer specialized services to UNESP researchers and the private sector. In 2024, following global trends in toxicological assessments of candidate molecules, the Zebrafish Bioterium (BZF) was launched within UNIPEX. The facility is currently managed by the Center for Environmental Impact Assessment on Human Health (TOXICAM), which assumes full operational responsibility. Animal models, particularly small mammals, have historically been pivotal in advancing medicine and the life sciences. However, in response to ethical considerations and in line with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a robust alternative. Zebrafish exhibit approximately 70% genetic homology with humans, are small, highly fecund, easily maintained, and capable of generating reproducible and reliable results for preclinical and clinical toxicological studies. The primary aim of this project is the operationalization, modernization, and automation of the BZF, with the goal of establishing a high-throughput, high-quality research support platform. Specific objectives include: (i) acquisition and installation of automated systems for breeding, management, and experimentation, including automated racks, water recirculation systems, and water quality monitoring and control units; (ii) construction of controlled environments compliant with international technical standards; and (iii) upgrading the electrical infrastructure to support automated environmental acclimatization, ensuring the maintenance of optimal animal welfare conditions essential for research reproducibility and data integrity. Moreover, the project seeks to enhance the vivarium's analytical capabilities through the implementation of advanced imaging systems for embryo selection, developmental assessment, and high-throughput screening (HTS) experiments. The final goal is to obtain Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certification, in accordance with regulatory frameworks established by national and international agencies, including ANVISA, FDA, and EMA. The management plan includes a robust equipment-sharing policy aimed at maximizing the multi-user potential of the infrastructure and fostering collaborations in scientific research and biotechnological innovation. To achieve these objectives, approximately R$1,957,000.00 is requested for the acquisition of medium- and large-scale permanent equipment necessary for the modernization of the BZF, including the implementation of a Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) facility at UNESP. In return, the project offers significant economic and scientific counterparts, including the establishment of a multi-user infrastructure equipped with advanced technologies and supported by highly qualified technical staff with continuous training programs. The principal investigators and collaborators affiliated with UNESP are fully committed to the achievement of the project's objectives and the successful implementation of its associated projects and subprojects. (AU)