Aquatic Platform
The Aquatic Platform consists of a modern, semi-automated installation that provides zebrafish housing, husbandry, and experimental services to support biomedical research and teaching activities. Currently, the facility can house up to 30.000 adult zebrafish, offering robotic feeding, maintenance of constant micro-environmental parameters (e.g. pH, temperature and conductivity), and semi-automated cleaning systems that ensure excellent conditions for research quality and animal welfare.
In well-equipped laboratories the Aquatic Platform offers and supports the generation and characterisation of zebrafish disease models using morpholino antisense technology and CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, as well as reporter lines and pharmacological models. Moreover, the platform offers the performance of small molecule screens in zebrafish disease models and reporter lines, as well as toxicity screens for drug safety assessment.
With the services of the Aquatic Platform researchers at the LCSB are using zebrafish as a vertebrate animal model to study various human diseases, particularly of the central nervous system.
Services
- Modern, semi-automated installation
- 1400 tanks for up to 30’000 adult zebrafish
- Meticulous monitoring of micro-environment (pH, temperature, conductivity)
- Morpholino antisense technology
- CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis
- Reporter lines
- Pharmacological models
- Microinjection
- Tissue dissection
- Cryopreservation
- Support during the regulatory process
- Meticulous experimental design following 3R prinicples
- Training of early and advances career researchers
People
The Aquatic Platform team has extensive experience handling and using zebrafish for research purposes. The platform manager, two experienced animal care technicians, and a dedicated veterinarian oversee all practices and are committed to a culture of care, animal welfare, transparency, and good scientific quality.
Contact
For any inquiries or questions regarding our facility, we invite you to contact us via email or phone.