This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop and validate zebrafish assays for testing of industrial chemicals for developmental neurotoxicity with reduced cost and shorter turn around times compared with available methods.
The commercial application of this project will be in the area of environmental toxicology. The impact of neurotoxins on the development of fetuses and children has been established for a few contaminants such as lead, but remains largely unexplored for most contaminants. Therefore, the development of a proven animal model will be both scientifically and commercially useful.