Small Device - Huge Impact

This Stellar telemetry device developed by TSE Systems allows researcher to collect cardiovascular data in laboratory animals. It can be implanted in small as well as in larger animals. Its unique internal data storage capability gives the researcher the freedom to move the animals away from their usual home cage environment while maintaining data acquisition. This ensures simultaneous data collection of vital signs while performing phenotypical, physiological, pharmacological, behavioural, metabolic and inhalation studies.  

During my PhD project, I will help to further improve the current system by adding a micro-GPS function to additionally measure behaviour and locomotor activity. This technology will advance research in socially housed animals, in which human interaction will be kept to a minimum. This in turn improves the relevance and quality of the collected data and - very importantly - the well-being of the animals. ^1,2 

This small telemetry device will have a huge impact on the flexibility to perform a broad range of social animal experiments, especially in the context of developing new and safer drugs. 

References:

1. Jennings, M., Prescott, M. J., & Joint Working Group on Refinement (Primates). (2009). Refinements in husbandry, care and common procedures for non-human primates: Ninth report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement. Laboratory Animals, 43(1_suppl), 1-4   https://doi.org/10.1258/la.2008.0071437. 
2. Ellegaard, L., Cunningham, A., Edwards, S., Grand, N., Nevalainen, T., Prescott, M., & Schuurman, T. (2010). Welfare of the minipig with special reference to use in regulatory toxicology studies. Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods, 62(3), 167-183.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vascn.2010.05.006