Drosophila-based non-animal screening platform for sleep and circadian bioactives
A high-capacity Drosophila melanogaster platform for non-animal pre-clinical screening of dietary bioactives and botanical extracts on sleep and circadian biology. Combines Drosophila Activity Monitoring with transgenic clock-gene reporters to deliver quantifiable behavioural and molecular readouts, enabling medium-throughput, mechanistic evaluation of sleep onset, duration, consolidation, and circadian alignment.
Overview
This solution provides a mature, high-capacity Drosophila melanogaster platform for non-animal pre-clinical screening of dietary bioactives and complex botanical extracts on sleep and circadian biology. It is designed for consumer health and nutrition innovators seeking mechanistic, reproducible data on how natural ingredients influence sleep behaviour and circadian rhythms without relying on traditional mammalian models. The platform supports medium-throughput testing and is suited to partners developing bioactive ingredients for sleep quality, circadian alignment, and age-related wellness applications.
Technical specifications
Core capabilities:
- Drosophila Activity Monitoring (DAM) system capable of recording more than 1,100 individual flies simultaneously, producing quantifiable readouts of sleep onset, duration, and consolidation, as well as circadian parameters including period, phase, and amplitude.
- Transgenic bioluminescence reporters for clock genes such as PERIOD and TIMELESS, enabling real-time in vivo monitoring of both central (brain) and peripheral clocks.
- Expertise in age-related clock changes and microbiome–circadian interactions, allowing studies across aging contexts and biological variables relevant to consumer health.
- Fully non-animal methodology compliant with ethical alternatives to mammalian testing.
- Scalable design supporting medium-throughput screening of complex botanical extracts.
Engagement model:
- Phase 1 (3–6 months): Platform validation using DAM sleep assays and PER/TIM reporter monitoring with sponsor-provided bioactives, delivering baseline data on sleep onset, duration, and circadian alignment.
- Phase 2 (6–12 months): Medium-throughput screening, mechanistic studies distinguishing central versus peripheral clocks and aging contexts, followed by data analysis and detailed reporting.
- Regular project meetings, mutually agreed milestones, and staged funding release.
Technology readiness level
The platform is operational at TRL 6–8, with validated DAM behavioural assays and PER/TIM reporter lines that have demonstrated reproducibility across studies. It is capable of testing complex botanical extracts and is positioned to deliver actionable insights for bioactive development pipelines with near-term deployment readiness.
About University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a comprehensive public research university—New Zealand’s largest—serving a broad research portfolio and a large, diverse student body. Research is anchored across adjacent city and Newmarket sites with shared core facilities, pilot lines, and test halls; the health campus sits beside major Auckland hospitals, enabling clinical translation. UniServices, the university’s commercialization company, provides a single front door for contracting, IP management, and venture formation, with experienced teams to deliver multi‑party programs. Research is supported by competitive funding from New Zealand’s major agencies and international sponsors, including programs administered by MBIE, the Health Research Council, and the Marsden Fund. Dedicated tech transfer, incubator links, and prototyping resources help partners move from discovery to pilot and scale‑up.
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