Chippewa Valley Times

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are conducting research on zebrafish to better understand brain development and function. The work is led by Dr. Bradley Carter, associate professor of biology and instructor in the neuroscience program.

“Zebrafish provide a good model for examining brain development and function,” Carter said. He explained that these fish share a high percentage of genes with humans, making them valuable for scientific study. “These fish are small and easy to handle in large numbers. They have similar growth patterns to humans, and they grow fast, allowing researchers to see results in many types of experiments over a short timeframe,” he added.

Noah Felix, a junior majoring in biology and Spanish from Eleva, is part of the student research team. His focus has been on studying the neurological impact of environmental contaminants using zebrafish as models. “The data about these contaminants in zebrafish can be related to humans, as the genome has many similarities,” Felix said. “Studies like this one could lead to better understanding of our health and inform environmental regulation of certain chemicals.”

Carter noted that while the science is exciting, his main interest lies in mentoring students throughout their research experience. “It’s exciting for me to mentor these undergraduates — they are involved at all different levels of the research while having a clinical connection to our colleagues at Mayo Clinic Health System. I enjoy helping students grow their talents and interests through research and supporting them as they develop into the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals” said Carter.

The project offers UW-Eau Claire students hands-on opportunities that connect academic learning with real-world applications.