Developing a new platform to test chemicals for their effects on brain development using zebrafish.
Official title: The ToxiFin Platform: Advancing High-Throughput Screening and Mechanistic Insights For Developmental Neurotoxicants Using the Zebrafish Model
Funded at Nemametrix, INC. · NIH-10884842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different everyday chemicals might affect children's brain development by using zebrafish to find out if any of these substances are harmful, with the goal of helping to create safer products and better environmental rules.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nemametrix, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $296,420 |
| NIH project number | 1R43ES036386-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10884842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include families concerned about the impact of environmental chemicals on children's neurological health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by neurodevelopmental disorders or who do not have children may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a high-throughput screening platform to evaluate how various household, agricultural, and industrial chemicals affect brain development, particularly in children. By using zebrafish, which are cost-effective and provide reliable insights into neural circuit formation, the study aims to identify neurotoxic effects more efficiently than traditional rodent testing. The ToxiFin platform will utilize advanced automated methods to analyze brain organization and function, potentially leading to safer chemical alternatives and improved environmental policies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer chemicals in our environment, reducing the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using zebrafish models for toxicological assessments, indicating that this approach is promising and builds on established methodologies.
Where this research is happening
-
Nemametrix, INC.
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Preston, Mary a. — Nemametrix, INC.
- Study coordinator: Preston, Mary a.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Automating health monitoring for zebrafish facilities
This study is creating a friendly system called 'FishCam' to help scientists keep an eye on the health and activity of zebrafish, which are important for understanding human diseases and testing new treatments.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.