Home cage behavior monitoring at the interface of animal welfare and neuroscience

SATELLITE SYMPOSIUM
FENS Forum 2024

Date: 24 June 2024, 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room 1.014/16, Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
Campus - Vienna Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna

Description

Home cage behavior monitoring allows for undisrupted observation of experimental animals in their familiar surroundings. The non-performance based, unbiased method of continuous monitoring of the animals´ spontaneous behavior allows unprecedented insights into behavioral displays as direct output of brain function. This satellite event on "Home Cage Behavior Monitoring at the Interface of Animal Welfare and Neuroscience" is conceived as platform for interdisciplinary discourse, focused on the convergence of animal welfare and neuroscience. Our initiative is motivated by a paradigm shift in animal research, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations and the refinement of experimental methodologies for in-vivo studies and increasing knowledge on their importance for experimental variability and data reproducibility. The event addresses these critical concerns by showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of animals in their home cages that promote both scientific rigor and ethical animal treatment. We will host scientific talks, posters and a round-table discussion including leading industry representatives.

Preliminary Program

9:00:                  Welcome and introduction

9:10 – 10:30:   Scientific talks

10:30 – 11:15: Coffee break and poster viewing

11:15 – 12:00: Round-table discussion