OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Oregon State University has led the use of aquatic models for biomedical research for over 50 years. The environmental health sciences community is becoming increasingly aware of the value that aquatic models can provide. Over the last 10 years, the Zebrafish Biomedical Research (ZBR) Facility Core has specifically promoted the zebrafish model as an ideal vertebrate platform for discovery and translational research. The ZBR, a full-service facility, will continue to support and advocate the use of zebrafish for environmental health sciences research.
The mission of Zebrafish Biomedical Research (ZBR) Facility Core is to help EHS CC investigators leverage the unique advantages of aquatic models as they investigate the environmental-biological interactions that influence human disease. ZBR will give EHS CC investigators access to the full range of services and resources available at OSU’s Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory (SARL).
The Zebrafish Biomedical Research (ZBR) Facility Core is housed in a newly remodeled 17,000-sq. ft. laboratory located at Oregon State University (OSU) Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory (SARL). This is a state-of-the-art facility equipped for molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, and toxicology research. A major strength of the laboratory is that we have a staff engineering team that helps to develop novel instrumentation to accelerate research. In addition to standard instrumentation, the facility has a full automation infrastructure.
The ZBR will bring to EHS CC investigators the powerful zebrafish research platform a state-of-the-art hatchery for rearing specific pathogen-free zebrafish, and a unique biomedical research facility for high-throughput studies of nutrition, genetics, and toxicity. We will consult with investigators to establish the suitability of zebrafish for their translational studies, then help them design and execute those studies. We will expose zebrafish embryos to chemicals in accordance with well-established protocols, and then help investigators acquire their data. We will provide a) technical support, including tank allocations, feeding, and specialized diets, b) expertise in surgery, microinjection, necropsy, histopathological evaluation, and imaging, c) support for broad-based “omics” experiments linked to adverse outcomes, d) expertise and advanced equipment for developmental- and adult-stage zebrafish neurobehavioral studies, and e) support for compliance issues. When necessary, we will produce transgenic animals. We will collaborate with investigators to interpret their data.