Safe Haven Lab Cages showcased innovative tree shrew housing solutions at the premier neuroscience conference dedicated to tree shrew research, fostering collaborations with leading institutions including Mayo Clinic, Duke University, and UAB Medical Center.
Tree Shrew Discovery 2025: Connecting the Research Community Through Specialized Lab Animal Housing
Safe Haven Lab Cages (SHLC) had an incredible experience at Tree Shrew Discovery 2025, the premier neuroscience conference dedicated to advancing tree shrew research and innovative lab animal housing solutions. Held at the University of Virginia from March 9-11, 2025, the event provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with leading researchers, share insights on custom tree shrew cages, and foster new collaborations within the specialized research community.
Research Advancements in Tree Shrew Neuroscience: Dr. Joe Wekselblatt's Poster Presentation
SHLC's co-founder, Dr. Joe Wekselblatt, presented innovative research on tree shrew visual system studies, highlighting his work at UCLA. His presentation highlighted innovative approaches in tree shrew neuroscience research, enabled by SHLC’s custom tree shrew cage designs. Researchers and industry experts engaged in productive discussions about how specialized housing impacts research outcomes and animal welfare, sparking ideas and potential research opportunities.
View Full-Version of Dr. Wekselblatt's research poster on tree shrew visual system studies >>
Future Research Enabled by Advanced Tree Shrew Housing
Inspired by discussions at Tree Shrew Discovery 2025, Dr. Wekselblatt is planning the next phase of his groundbreaking research. One promising direction involves clearing whole eyes for light sheet imaging of retinal circuitry – advanced techniques made possible by proper housing and handling systems.
To support this research, SHLC is exploring a collaboration with Life Canvas Technologies to optimize the clearing and staining of 3D tissues in larger animals, extending the applications of advanced imaging techniques through specialized housing solutions.
Building Research Collaborations for Advanced Tree Shrew Housing Solutions
A major highlight of TDS25 was reconnecting with Dr. Rafael Grytz from UAB Medical Center, a longtime collaborator using SHLC's specialized tree shrew cages. The conference also catalyzed exciting new research partnerships:
- Dr. Mark Sommer from Duke University invited Dr. Wekselblatt to participate as a visiting scientist for projects involving specialized injections on tree shrews
- Researchers at the University of Utah expressed interest in collaborating on eye research using SHLC's observation-optimized cages
- Philadelphia Children's Hospital announced plans to establish a new tree shrew colony with SHLC housing solutions
Pictured (from left to right): Dr. Rafael Grytz (UABMC), Dr. Ralph Wimmer (Tufts University), Dr. Joe Wekselblatt (UCLA, SHLC, Cyagen).
Custom Tree Shrew Housing Solutions for Mayo Clinic Researchers
Attendees showed particular interest in SHLC's custom lab cages designed specifically for the Mayo Clinic, demonstrating our innovative approach to tree shrew housing that prioritizes both research requirements and animal welfare. These specialized cages represent a significant advancement in research animal caging solutions.
Many conference participants expressed eagerness to hear feedback from Mayo Clinic researchers, who recently received the first half of their custom SHLC cages. Researchers are anticipating Mayo's insights as they evaluate the cages' impact on research productivity and animal welfare outcomes.
Image: SHLC's Custom Mansion Cage Design for Mayo Clinic researchers
Growing Demand for Specialized Tree Shrew Housing in 2025
The conference highlighted the expanding interest in tree shrew research models across multiple institutions. Many research facilities have confirmed plans to expand their tree shrew colonies in 2025.
SHLC will play a key role in this expansion by facilitating the transport of tree shrews from the Kunming Institute and providing the specialized housing necessary for these growing research initiatives. Our species-specific designs are engineered to support the unique behavioral and physiological needs of tree shrews in laboratory settings.
Industry Partnerships Advancing Lab Animal Housing Standards
Dr. Wekselblatt connected with Bill Britz, the CEO and President of BritzCo, a leader in lab animal welfare solutions and animal housing innovations. Their shared interest in developing better solutions for lab animal caging set the stage for potential future collaborations to further enhance animal welfare and research productivity.
SHLC's expertise in species-specific housing continues to stir interest in collaborations to advance animal welfare and research outcomes, in furtherance of our ongoing mission to improve research animal caging across the scientific community.
Community Reception and Recognition
We are grateful for the warm reception from the tree shrew research community and the opportunity to contribute to improving lab animal housing standards. SHLC's commitment to advancing research was recognized with our company featured on the event sponsorship slide.
Image: SHLC featured on TDS25 event sponsorship slide
Event Highlights: SHLC's Presence at Tree Shrew Discovery 2025
The conference provided an excellent platform to showcase our standard and custom tree shrew cages, demonstrating our commitment to species-specific design and research-enhancing features. Check out some final highlights from the event, including photos of Dr. Wekselblatt with attendees alongside our booth and cage displays at TDS25.
SHLC Booth, featuring our Standard Cage and flyers.
Pictured (from left to right): Madineh Sedigh-Sarvestani & Dr. Joe Wekselblatt (UCLA, SHLC, Cyagen) in front of the custom Mayo Clinic Mansion Cage.
Pictured (from left to right): Dr. Joe Wekselblatt (UCLA, SHLC, Cyagen), Dr. Elise Savier (University of Michigan)
Partner with Safe Haven Lab Cages for Your Tree Shrew Research
SHLC remains committed to supporting researchers with innovative, species-specific lab animal housing solutions that enhance both research outcomes and animal welfare. Our custom designs incorporate features that facilitate observation, enrichment, and ease of maintenance.
If you're interested in exploring how our specialized tree shrew cages can advance your research program or learning more about our custom design capabilities, request a complimentary consultation with our scientific team.
Stay connected for more updates as we continue to contribute to advancements in tree shrew research through innovative housing solutions!