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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.  ...

IIVS Announces Suite of Non-Animal Methods to Reduce Animal Testing for Skin Sensitization

September 6, 2016
GAITHERSBURG, MD – September 6, 2016 – In response to a newly published OECD Test Guideline, IIVS announces the addition of the Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT, OECD TG 442E) to its suite of non-animal assays to determine skin sensitization. The assessment of skin sensitization has historically involved the use of laboratory animals; specifically guinea pigs and mice. In recent years, international research and validation efforts have paved the way for the use of non-animal methods. “Industry has provided the field...

IIVS e-News, September 2016

September 1, 2016
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IIVS Makes Shortlist for Prestigious LUSH Prize for its Work to Reduce Animal Testing

August 18, 2016
GAITHERSBURG, MD – August 18, 2016 - The Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc. (IIVS) is pleased to be among the projects and scientists that have made the shortlist for the 2016 LUSH Prize. Awarded by LUSH, the maker of fresh handmade cosmetics, the annual £250,000 prize recognizes achievements in the non-animal testing sector in five main categories: Lobbying, Public Awareness, Science, Training, and Young Researcher. IIVS was shortlisted for the Training category while IIVS scientists, Dr. Kim Norman and...

Webinar: Regulatory Initiatives for New Approaches to Traditional Toxicity Testing

July 1, 2016
This one-hour webinar features presentations by Dr. Jennifer McLain, Deputy Director, Office of Pesticide Programs, Antimicrobial Division and IIVS CEO Dr. Rodger Curren. Dr. McLain discusses the EPA OPP's plans to reduce the use of animal testing in acute toxicity testing and provides suggestions on how stakeholders and EPA can cooperate to advance animal reduction goals. Dr. Curren then talks about IIVS' activities in developing the current non-animal strategy for eye irritation, and recent investigations into in vitro methods to...