November 2016

Video: The 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test — Chinese

November 21, 2016
This training video with Chinese subtitles explores a cell-based method for assessing Phototoxicity — or the potential for chemicals to cause damage after being exposed to light. The method is used widely around the world by many industries, including the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. Disclaimer: Please note that the procedures shown in this video were for demonstration purposes only and that all assay procedures, except the UVA/dark exposure, should be performed in a biological safety cabinet using aseptic techniques. Due to...

Video: The 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test — Portuguese

November 21, 2016
This new training video with Portuguese subtitles explores a cell-based method for assessing Phototoxicity — or the potential for chemicals to cause damage after being exposed to light. The method is used widely around the world by many industries, including the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. Disclaimer: Please note that the procedures shown in this video were for demonstration purposes only and that all assay procedures, except the UV A/dark exposure, should be performed in a biological safety cabinet using aseptic techniques....

IIVS Releases Training Video to Replace Animals in Testing

November 19, 2016
GAITHERSBURG, MD – October 12, 2016 – Funded by a grant from the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA), the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc.(IIVS) has released a technical training video that describes a cell-based in vitro method for assessing phototoxicity - the potential for chemicals to cause damage after being exposed to light. The 19-minute video is the second technical training video on non-animal methods that is produced by IIVS with EPAA’s support. Both videos are...

Acceptance of First Non-Animal Method by China FDA Anticipated

November 2, 2016
GAITHERSBURG, MD – November 2, 2016 – The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) welcomes the news from China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) officials that – for the first time in China – data from a non-animal test method will soon be recognized for safety evaluations of cosmetics. The method, known as the 3T3 Phototoxicity assay, measures a chemical’s potential to cause harm after exposure to light. The test has undergone formal validation internationally and has been incorporated into the...

Taiwan Bans Cosmetics Animal Testing from 2019

October 26, 2016
Taiwan has passed a bill to ban cosmetics testing on animals. With a three-year implementation period in place, it will take effect from October 2019....

Webinar: How GLPs Enhance the Quality of Regulated and Non-Regulated Toxicology

October 18, 2016
This one-hour webinar, led by IIVS Director of Quality and Compliance, introduces some of the concepts of Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) designed to promote study and data integrity within an in vitro toxicology framework. Applying these concepts within your own laboratory should aid in production of robust, repeatable studies. View Slides...

New Appointment for IIVS Study Director Emilia Costin

October 18, 2016
IIVS study director, Emilia Costin has joined the Scientific Advisory Board of the Romanian Center for Alternative Test Methods (ROCAM). ROCAM was established in June 2015 with the main goal to support and promote the 3Rs principles in Romania and regionally.  Congratulations Emilia!...

Advancing Non-animal Testing Methods: First Set of Novel Knowledge Tools Published

October 18, 2016
An adverse outcome pathway, or AOP, is a highly structured way of describing a toxicological process which can lead to an adverse health effect in humans or wildlife, caused by an unsafe exposure to a chemical substance. The first five adverse outcome pathways have now been published by experts. The AOPs are novel knowledge management tools in toxicology and are useful for supporting risk assessment to human health. They are also valuable for helping to avoid animal testing through the...

International Harmonization and Cooperation in the Validation of Alternative Methods

September 27, 2016
The development and validation of scientific alternatives to animal testing is important not only from an ethical perspective (implementation of 3Rs), but also to improve safety assessment decision making with the use of mechanistic information of higher relevance to humans. To be effective in these efforts, it is however imperative that validation centres, industry, regulatory bodies, academia and other interested parties ensure a strong international cooperation, cross-sector collaboration and intense communication in the design, execution, and peer review of validation...

Implementation of New Test Methods into Practical Testing

September 27, 2016
New toxicology test methods, especially those using in vitro methods, are continually being developed. Some are used by industry for screening purposes; others are eventually validated for regulatory use. However, for a new test method to be firmly adopted by industry it must be readily available, generally through an in-house industry laboratory, an academic laboratory, or a contract research organization. Read chapter.  ...