My First and Last TEATIME- A Glimpse into the Future of Behavioral Research

It was my first (and unfortunately last) in-person TEATIME conference, and what a blast it was! The event was a whirlwind of inspiring talks, groundbreaking tools, and a powerful sense of a community united by a common goal: to revolutionize behavioral research. I left feeling energized and more optimistic than ever about the future of our field.

Two major themes dominated the conference: a collective drive towards standardization and a celebration of open-source innovation.

A Unified Vision for HCM

One of the most influential takeaways was the push for a standardized HCM (Home Cage Monitoring) system definition. This isn’t just about technical specs; it’s about creating a shared language that enables true interoperability between different systems. This move towards a homogenized framework is a game-changer for collaborative and reproducible science.

This spirit of collaboration is also embodied by The Behaviour Forum, a free, open-access platform for discussing all things animal behavior. The forum continues to grow, and we are always looking for more volunteers to join the community and help us push scientific knowledge forward!

The Open-Source Revolution in Full Swing

The conference was a vibrant showcase of what happens when brilliant minds embrace open science. The energy around these community-driven projects was palpable. Here are a few that particularly stood out:

• MiceCraft: The incredible LMT duo, Fabrice de Chaumont and Elodie, unveiled the evolution of the Live Mouse Tracker into MiceCraft—a fully customizable and controllable playground for neuroscientific and behavioral testing. It’s a testament to how a powerful tool can become a versatile platform for unique applications. It’s all open-source, of course, and you can find out more at micecraft.com.

• FED3 and its Ecosystem: Alexxai Kravitz demonstrated just how much neuroscience research can benefit from the amazing FED3, while Hamid presented RTFED, a beautiful solution that combines FED3’s power with synchronized photometry recordings.

• Innovative Tracking Solutions: The creativity on display was astounding. Stuart Peirson’s COMPASS system for sleep/activity tracking showed how a deep scientific question can drive technological breakthroughs. Michal introduced a brilliant, low-cost system for multi-video tracking of a dam and her pups in their home cages. I’m excited to see how this project evolves!

• Comprehensive Monitoring Environments: We saw glimpses of the next generation of HCM environments. Davor Virag’s MIROSLAV is a well-engineered solution for large-scale circadian and environmental tracking. And the BEATBOX Cafe, from Daniela Domingues and the Eric Burguière lab, is an elegant, modular environment for cognitive experiments. We’re all eagerly awaiting its official release!

Building a FAIRer Future

Beyond the tools, the conference reinforced the importance of community-driven infrastructure. The HCM catalog continues to be an invaluable resource.

I was particularly excited by the presentation of Fair3R.fr by Benoit Petit-Demouliere from Phenomin. It uses the open-source CKAN framework to create a federated platform for sharing preclinical (meta)data. This is exactly the kind of solution we need to build a more FAIR and interconnected research ecosystem. I’ve already included it in MAPP, and the best part is that you can deploy your own instance today!

Bonus: The HCM Boardgame!

A fun and creative highlight was the HCM boardgame developed by the incredible Sonia Bains!

From Ideas to Implementation

The talks were equally eye-opening. I was truly impressed by Martien Kas, who shared the quality of translational work his team is achieving. His efforts to redefine frameworks that better connect preclinical findings to clinical research are profoundly inspiring.

Seeing this rich ecosystem of initiatives, all centered on standardized knowledge, FAIR-by-design tools, and interoperability, makes it clear that a tremendous future lies ahead. The community has the skills, expertise, and network to turn these ideas into reality.

This is an open call to funders and potential investors: the time is right to support these efforts. If you want to be part of building the next generation of research infrastructure, drop me an email!

The future resides in unity and constant connection. I hope to see an official HCM society form soon to help us stay organized and accelerate our development.

Finally, a huge thank you to Vootele and Hilary for making this unforgettable conference happen!