Archive

See You at EUROTOX 2019!

August 15, 2019
  IIVS is excited about meeting attendees of the 55th EUROTOX conference! Please join us at booth #34 to meet our representatives who are looking forward to discussing trends and New Methodologies in Alternative Approaches (NAMs) to toxicological research, as well providing updates on services offered by our organization! Also, don’t miss our posters: The kinetic Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (kDPRA): An in chemico method to characterize the skin sensitization potency of chemicals (Poster Viewing 1) Increased Throughput and Cryopreservation of Precision-Cut Lung...

Increased Throughput and Cryopreservation of Precision-cut Lung Slices Extend the Utility of Human-relevant, 3-Dimensional Pulmonary Test Systems

March 18, 2019
Human-relevant, in vitro/ex vivo assays are considered an ethical and economically viable manner by which to screen the thousands of chemicals requiring hazard assessment. Of the 3-dimensional models, human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) are often considered the most physiologically relevant pulmonary test system, but lower throughput and difficulties in cryopreservation have hampered PCLS use. We have modified a tissue slicer to accommodate 3 tissue cores for simultaneous slicing. Increased slice production was quantified using agarose and tissue cores in the slicer....

Tobacco Companies Embracing In Vitro Toxicology

October 29, 2018
The tobacco industry is facing increased testing requirements for e-cigarettes and other tobacco products that entered the market after Feb. 15, 2007.  Companies hope in vitro tests that use human lung cells or tissues will be sufficient to show that their new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, significantly reduce harm and disease and benefit the population as a whole when compared with traditional cigarettes.  Several of them are working with independent, third-party laboratories, including the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS),...

Next-Generation Tobacco and Nicotine Products: Substantiating Harm Reduction and Supporting Tobacco Regulatory Science

June 21, 2018
A framework for the assessment of novel next-generation tobacco and nicotine products with the potential to reduce health risks compared with cigarettes should integrate scientific studies incorporating nonclinical, clinical, and population studies approaches.  These products should have lower emissions and exhibit reduced biological effects compared with those of cigarettes, ideally approaching those of smoking cessation.  The products should also be acceptable cigarette alternatives for current smokers, while not appealing to nonsmokers or former smokers.  Validating harm reduction and promoting regulatory acceptance...

Characterization of a Vitrocell VC1 Using Nicotine Dosimetry: An Essential Component Toward Standardized In Vitro Aerosol Exposure of Tobacco and Next Generation Nicotine Delivery Products

June 21, 2018
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has regulatory authority over tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes and next generation products (NGPs) such as e-cigarettes and tobacco heating products (THPs).  There is a desire by the industry, regulators and animal protection organizations to incorporate non-animal test methods for tobacco product and NGP assessment.  When assessing respiratory effects in vitro, reliable exposure systems that deliver aerosols to cellular/tissue cultures (such as human reconstructed airways or lung slices) at the air–liquid interface are needed.  Using nicotine dosimetry, we report the...

Holger Behrsing, PhD, Participates in Round Table Discussion on Non-Animal Approaches for Inhalation Toxicology

June 14, 2018
Holger Behrsing, PhD, was recently invited to participate in an expert round table discussion convened on the development and implementation of 21st century non-animal approaches to assess the toxicity of inhaled substances.  The discussion included perspectives from government, industry, nonprofit, and academic sectors on the advantages and challenges of using these approaches, ongoing efforts, and steps needed to gain widespread use and acceptance of these approaches. A transcript of the discussion has just been published in Applied In Vitro Toxicology, Vol....

In Vitro Exposure Systems and Dosimetry Assessment Tools for Inhaled Tobacco Products: Workshop Proceedings, Conclusions and Paths Forward for In Vitro Model Use

August 17, 2017
In 2009, the passing of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act facilitated the establishment of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), and gave it regulatory authority over the marketing, manufacture and distribution of tobacco products, including those termed ‘modified risk’. On April 4-6, 2016, IIVS convened a workshop conference entitled, In Vitro Exposure Systems and Dosimetry Assessment Tools for Inhaled Tobacco Products, to bring together stakeholders representing regulatory agencies, academia and industry to address the research priorities...

Using In Vitro Assays, the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), KeratinoSens™ Assay (KS), and Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) to Assess Skin Sensitization Potential of Electronic Cigarette Liquids

April 4, 2017
Three regulatory accepted in vitro assays were evaluated in a proof-of-concept project to determine skin sensitization potential of electronic cigarette liquids (eliquids). These assays measure molecular initiating events and initial cellular responses prescribed in the OECD Integrated Testing Strategy (ITS) describing key events in the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) leading to skin sensitization....

Assessment of In Vitro COPD Models for Tobacco Regulatory Science: Workshop Proceedings, Conclusions and Paths Forward for In Vitro Model Use

March 30, 2017
On 8-10 December 2014, IIVS organised a workshop conference, entitled Assessment of In Vitro COPD Models for Tobacco Regulatory Science, to bring together stakeholders representing regulatory agencies, academia, industry and animal protection, to address the research priorities articulated by the FDA-CTP. Specific topics were covered to assess the status of current Assessment of In Vitro COPD Models for Tobacco Regulatory Science technologies as they are applied to understanding the adverse pulmonary events resulting from tobacco product exposure, and in particular,...

Special issue of Applied In Vitro Toxicology: Next Generation Tobacco Products

March 10, 2017
Check out the recently released special issue of Applied In Vitro Toxicology: Application of In Vitro Toxicology Approaches for the Evaluation of Next-Generation Nicotine Products.  The issue includes several articles by IIVS scientists and other experts. View the issue online....