2023
Dr. Cosima Porteus
Michelle Wodzak
The University of Toronto Scarborough
Congratulations to Dr. Cosima Porteus, Michelle Wodzak and the University of Toronto Scarborough for being chosen as Turner Scientific’s 2023 Aquatics Research grant winners!
Dr. Porteus and Ms. Wodzak are using Turner Scientific’s Sensory Sentinel to collect empirical data related to the impact of noise and vibration on multiple species of fish, in a variety of common housing systems. Their findings are expected to inform refinements in aquatic housing conditions that will support animal welfare and rigorous, reproducible science for years to come.
We are honored to partner with them in shaping the future of biomedical progress and environmental sustainability for animals and people!
2022
Dr. Amber Southwell
Turner Scientific is proud to award Dr. Amber Southwell with the 2022 Sensory Sentinel grant to promote animal welfare and improved research.
Dr. Southwell holds multiple positions in the neuroscience space, including Co-Director at the Central Florida Center for Huntington’s Disease; Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences; and Director of the rodent behavior facility at the University of Central Florida Health Sciences campus in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Southwell has focused her career on developing strategies for the treatment of Huntington’s disease (HD), the most commonly inherited neurodegenerative disease. HD is a devastating condition that results in gradually progressive deterioration of movement, behavior, cognition, and reasoning. There is no cure for HD, and full time care is required at later stages of the disease.
HD research requires the use of sensitive genetic lines of test animals, and Dr. Southwell’s proposal effectively embraced the purpose of the Sensory Sentinel in protecting these animals. “The Sensory Sentinel measures all important variables and tracks employee activities. Therefore, it will be indispensable in helping us to identify and eliminate any potential stressors to promote the welfare of our animals,” stated Dr. Southwell.
Dr. Southwell will receive a Sensory Sentinel device and adequate consultation to allow for proper installation, use, and interpretation of data.
Press release for Dr. Southwell’s award (May 2, 2022)
2021
Dr. Craig A. Hodges
Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University – Cleveland, OH.
Dr. Hodges is a leading researcher into the causes and treatments of cystic fibrosis (CF). Mice used to study CF are particularly fragile, and therefore susceptible to variable laboratory conditions. Dr. Hodges’ use of the Sensory Sentinel to protect his animals and decrease variability in his research reflect the values on which Turner Scientific based the development of the device. We are proud to support his work.