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Volume 9, Issue 2  

Look for IIVS at the Sustainable Fragrances Conference
June 9 - 10, Arlington, VA


Please visit our booth and learn more about our in vitro testing services at the upcoming Sustainable Fragrances Meeting. An estimated 100 scientists from industry, government and NGOs will gather to discuss the concepts and challenges of creating "green" and/or "sustainable" fragrances.  This year's key note address will be given by Dr. Paul Anastas, the Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). 
Science

IIVS Offers Assay for Skin Sensitization

 

Developed by Givaudan, the KeratinoSens assays offers a cost effective way to screen ingredients for their potential as skin sensitizers. The assay is based on the Nrf2-Keap1-ARE toxicity pathway and utilizes a reporter cell line with a luciferase gene to detect electrophilic chemicals - a feature of skin sensitizers. The assay showed promising reproducibility and predictivity during a recent multi-laboratory study (Natsch, et al., 2011) and is currently being considered for review by ECVAM. To learn more about the KeratinoSens Assay please click here or contact Dr. Kimberly Norman at [email protected].  

 

 

 

KeratinoSens diagram

Adapted from Natsch et al., 2011

EDUCATION
Click on the link below to register.

 

Dates for Annual Hands-On Training Course Announced  

 

IIVS' Practical Methods for In Vitro Toxicology Workshop will be held at the IIVS facility in Gaithersburg, MD January 23 - 26, 2012. The course is comprised of both lecture and laboratory activities intended to provide a comprehensive introduction to in vitro toxicology techniques and the regulatory environment in which they are used. Past course participants have included representatives from industry, academia, and government agencies.

 

Course size is limited to 12 participants to allow for individual instruction in the laboratory. Registration fee includes lunch each full day and two evening events. To view a sample agenda please click here. For specific questions please contact Amanda Ulrey at [email protected].

 

 

   

Register Now 

OUTREACH
Chinese Flag

Chinese Symposia on Alternatives to Animal Testing

 

The growing international interest in non-animal testing methods was demonstrated recently during a series of symposia held in the People's Republic of China. Between April 11th and 15th, Chinese scientists and regulators organized three major meetings which were held in Beijing and Guangzhou. Dr. Rodger Curren (IIVS) and Dr. Brian Jones (Mary Kay Cosmetics) were invited to the symposia and gave presentations on behalf of the IIVS Science  

 Advisory Panel.

 

The First International Symposium on Cosmetics - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation for Cosmetics took place on April 11-12 in Beijing. The meeting was organized by the China Cosmetic Research Center with major support from the Food Licensing Department of the SFDA - the department which regulates cosmetics in China. The purpose of the symposium was to increase communication and cooperation within the international cosmetic community and to remove technology barriers to cosmetic safety assessment. The symposium had over 100 attendees and speakers from the SFDA, Beijing Technology and Business University, China CDC, Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, and industry speakers from Asia, Europe and the United States. It was clear during the meeting that internationally recognized alternative methods would gradually be approved by the SFDA for evaluation of cosmetics.

 

Two days later the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention of Guangdong Province, and the Laboratory Animal Center of Southern Medical University organized the International Symposium on Technology and Application of Alternatives to Animal Testing. This meeting brought together over 100 delegates from industry and several CDCs (where much of the safety testing of chemicals and cosmetics is conducted) to discuss the current state of the art of non-animal testing, and research/validation efforts by the CDC in this area. The meeting also included a tour and laboratory demonstration of several assay systems by the CDC, as well as a demonstration of reconstructed human skin produced in China by L'Oreal.

 

The third meeting took place at the Food Lab of Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Technology Center which supports the administrative functions overseeing import and export of cosmetics in China. This laboratory has been extremely active in helping set National Standards for alternative testing methods such as 3T3 NRU phototoxicity, 

Dr. Brian Jones of Mary Kay gives a presentation on the BCOP assay in China

Dr. Brian Jones of Mary Kay gives a presentation on the BCOP assay during the meetings in China.

keratinocyte cytotoxicity, and the mouse embryonic stem cell test. The advantages of scientific collaboration between IIVS (and other industry laboratories) and the Technology Center was an important discussion topic.

 

At each of these venues Dr. Curren presented the "Routine Use of Non-Animal Methods by Cosmetic and Personal Care Product Manufacturers in the United States" and Dr. Jones presented information on the Bovine Cornea Opacity and Permeability Assay. The discussions and interactions with numerous Chinese scientists and government regulators were extremely encouraging, and it would not be surprising to see China quickly become an important player in the growth of in vitro methods internationally.
News and Upcoming Events
Learn More about our In Vitro Testing Services

Whether you are just beginning to use alternative toxicology testing or you have strategically integrated alternatives within your testing programs, IIVS has the scientific resources and expertise to support you.


Visit the Science section of our web-site to view the full range of services we offer. 
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If finding predictive tools to replace animals used in

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ECHA Extends Its GLP Policy


REACH registrants can now submit tests conducted in all laboratories that are declared compliant with the GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) principles by a recognized monitoring authority. 





 

Main Findings of the Report "Alternatives (Non-Animal) Methods for Cosmetics Testing Current Status and Future Prospects -2010" 

 

The document highlights the most important findings of a panel of scientific experts tasked with assessing the availability of alternative methods to animal testing in view of the full marketing ban foreseen in Europe in 2013 for cosmetic ingredients tested on animals.




 

 

IIVS' Science in the Schools Outreach Continues

 

IIVS provided bovine eyes to Explorations Preparatory School in Flower Mound, Texas to assist with the students' lesson on ocular anatomy and the use of non-animal testing methods.   

 

 

student examines a bovine cornea provided to his class by IIVS 

 





American Society for Cellular and

Computational Toxicology 

ASCCT Banner

 Webinar Announced:

 

Dr. Patricia Schmieder of the EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory will be giving the first ASCCT member Webinar, describing MetaPath, a metabolism pathway database and computational tool.

 

The Webinar is scheduled for July 12 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Please save the date!


www.ascctox.org