A system to monitor the health and behavior of zebrafish in research facilities

CanaryTank: a plug-in husbandry behavior tracking system for health of fish facilities

NIH-funded research Martineau & Associates · NIH-10886045

This study is testing a new system called CanaryTank that uses cameras to watch how zebrafish behave and stay healthy, helping researchers take better care of these fish in their labs.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMartineau & Associates NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Menlo Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10886045 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing an innovative system called CanaryTank that uses computer vision to monitor the behavior and health of zebrafish, which are commonly used in medical research. By tracking factors such as swimming patterns, feeding habits, and responses to light changes, the system aims to provide real-time insights into the wellbeing of these fish. The approach involves installing video monitoring systems in existing fish facilities to collect and analyze behavioral data, which can help researchers ensure optimal conditions for their studies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are researchers and institutions that utilize zebrafish as a model organism in their studies.

Not a fit: Patients who do not work with zebrafish or are not involved in related research will likely not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the health monitoring of zebrafish, leading to more reliable and reproducible results in medical research.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of computer vision in animal behavior monitoring is emerging, this specific application for zebrafish health monitoring is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Where this research is happening

Menlo Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.