SBCS’s Caroline Brennan has won £356,952 to study the genetic basis of drug seeking and addiction. The grant, awarded by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, will allow Dr Brennan to develop methods to examine traits associated with addiction and novelty-seeking behaviour in the zebrafish. Since the neurochemical pathways involved in drug seeking are very similar between zebrafish and mammals, it is hoped the work will lead to reliable tests of altered addictive behaviour and, ultimately, will help to reveal genes linked to drug addiction. By using the zebrafish, the project also aims to reduce the reliance on rodents for lab work. Reported in Times Higher Education.