October 2019
IIVS Workshop Series: Identification, Discussion and Recommendations for the Optimal Generation and Use of In Vitro Genotoxicity Assay Data for Tobacco and Nicotine Products
October 18, 2019The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) is sponsoring a series of workshops to identify, discuss and develop recommendations for optimal scientific/technical approaches for utilizing in vitro assay data within and across tobacco and nicotine product categories. Workshops provide a unique opportunity for invited expert stakeholders to share experiences and to develop recommendations that may serve as a resource for developing optimal approaches and data to evaluate the toxicity of tobacco and nicotine products. It is envisioned that some of...
Use of Ex Vivo Precision-Cut Lung SLices as a Screening Tool for Potential Respiratory Toxicity of E-Liquids
October 17, 2019The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the FDA regulatory authority over next generation tobacco products (NGTP) such as E-vapor products. E-vapor product liquids contain a variety of ingredient combinations that should be assessed for human risk. One human lung-relevant testing platform with reasonable throughput, is human precision-cut lung slices (HuPCLS). HuPCLS are arguably the most complex non-animal model of the lung, retaining native architecture and immune-competent cells over multi-week culture periods. HuPCLS were exposed to three concentrations...
Evaluation of TRPV1 Activity to Assess the Eye Stinging Potential of Cosmetic Formulations
October 17, 2019The Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor is one of the most well characterized pain-inducing receptors and has been recently identified as a valuable tool to predict eye stinging potential of surfactant based formulations. In this study we sought to predict eye stinging of nonsurfactant based cosmetic formulations by studying TRPV1 activity using the NociOcular assay. In the NociOcular assay, TRPV1 expressing neuroblastoma cells are exposed to test substance and TRPV1 activity is measured by acute increases in...
PETA Science Group Donates $50,000 in Equipment to IIVS
October 11, 2019Gaithersburg, Md. — Animals don't have to suffer for your cosmetics, cleaners, pesticides, or drugs. The PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. is donating $50,000 in equipment to the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a nonprofit laboratory in Gaithersburg that conducts and develops animal-free test methods. IIVS will use the VITROCELL® Cloud inhalation exposure system — instead of animals — to assess the effects of substances on the human respiratory tract. Manufactured by German-based VITROCELL Systems, the Cloud system mimics realistic...
Promoting the Uptake of Alternatives to Animal Testing Through the Development of eLearning Tools
September 13, 2019In order to further promote the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU, the European Commission issued calls for a number of related projects last year. One of these projects is aimed at facilitating the uptake of non-animal alternatives by developing two e-learning modules. The contract for this project was awarded to a consortium consisting of SYRCLE, the Swiss 3R Competence Centre, lnstitute for ln Vitro Sciences, Pharma Launcher and Ecorys UK. This consortium will develop two modules, i.e., one eLearning module focused...
kDPRA: An in chemico Method to Characterize the Skin Sensitization Potency of Chemicals
September 13, 2019While the skin sensitization hazard of substances can readily be identified using non-animal methods, the classification of potency into UN GHS sub-categories 1A and 1B remains challenging. The kinetic direct peptide reactivity assay (kDPRA) is a modification of the DPRA (OECD TG 442C) wherein the reaction kinetics of a test substance towards a synthetic cysteine-containing peptide is evaluated. For this purpose, several concentrations of the test substance are incubated with the synthetic peptide for several incubation times at 25°C. After...
US EPA Commits to Dramatically Reduce Animal Testing
September 13, 2019The US EPA has committed to dramatically reducing animal testing with a commitment for total elimination by the year 2035. IIVS is proud to have played a part in the move to reduce animal testing, starting with the successful development, and acceptance, of the non-animal eye-irritation defined approach, which was developed by an industry and regulatory consortium led by IIVS' CEO Rodger D. Curren, Ph.D. IIVS looks forward to continuing its collaboration with stakeholders to help the agency achieve its goals. Read the...
IIVS Receives Support for Non-Animal Testing From RIFM
September 9, 2019September 10, 2019, Gaithersburg, MD – The Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc. (IIVS) is excited to announce that it has received a grant from the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) to support its mission to promote non-animal methods. The grant will be used to purchase equipment that will enable IIVS to expand capabilities and offer several non-animal tests in compliance with Good Laboratory Practices. “RIFM and IIVS have a long history of working together to identify non-animal testing approaches...
PETA Science Group and Tobacco Companies Donate to Save Animals
August 28, 2019Donated Equipment Will Help to Replace Animals in Respiratory Toxicity Testing Gaithersburg, MD — The PETA International Science Consortium Ltd., Imperial Brands PLC, Altria Client Services (ALCS), British American Tobacco PLC, and Philip Morris International Inc have joined together to donate equipment that can help to replace the use of animals in respiratory testing with more human-relevant, non-animal test methods. The equipment — worth $110,000 and manufactured by Germany-based VITROCELL Systems — was donated to the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS),...
Register Now for 2020 Practical Methods for In Vitro Toxicology Workshop
August 22, 2019Register Now! Registration is open for our 2020 Practical Methods for In Vitro Toxicology Workshop which will be held at our facilities in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, and will begin on Monday afternoon, January 13, and finish on Thursday afternoon, January 16. This intensive workshop includes presentations from IIVS scientists and guest speakers. In addition, attendees will benefit from valuable hands-on experience working with in vitro techniques in the laboratory. The workshop is suitable for both those who are just beginning to use...