Platform Science

Prioritisation, promotion and implementation of future research based on the application of the 3Rs


In the field of research, EPAA is exploring opportunities to prioritise, promote and implement future research in the field of the 3Rs. That means:


  • Identification of priorities for future 3R-oriented research, which is seen as a core activity of the partnership.
  • Identification of gaps and opportunities to improve animal welfare through reduction, refinement and replacement.
  • Collation and exchange of knowledge from different industry sectors, Commission, regulatory bodies and academia.
  • Interaction with other working groups in order to accelerate development, validation and acceptance of alternative methods.

 

New perspectives on safety 

Under this action a workshop on "New Perspectives on Safety" was held on 28-29 April 2008 in Brussels, bringing together eminent scientists from different disciplines under the moderation of the Editor-in-Chief of Nature. The main objective was to advise on the research needed to enable future hazard identification (i.e. potential of exogenous chemicals or proteins to elicit adverse effects) with regard to chronic repeat dose systemic toxicity without the use of animal testing. This represents one of the most challenging questions in safety testing, and specifically for alternative approaches to animals. The proceedings of the workshop are available here PDF.

Based on the recommendations of the 2008 workshop, the EPAA decided to examine in more detail how recent scientific and technological developments in :

a) STEM CELLS RESEARCH and

b) in COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY combined with SYSTEMS BIOLOGY could be exploited to develop novel approaches for assessing repeat dose systemic toxicity without animal testing.

Two Task-Forces (or project teams) have been set within the Platform on Science to coordinate activities to this respect.

Stem cells task force

As a first follow-up to the 2008 workshop, an expert meeting with members from industry and academia took place Ispra, Italy in October 2009 to discuss future directions of stem cell research for safety testing. A report of this meeting is available here PDF.

In October 2011, a new meeting with experts from industry, ECVAM and academics involved in stem cells research projects was held in Ispra, Italy. The flash report of this meeting is available here PDF.

Computational chemistry & systems biology Task Force

A follow-up workshop on computational chemistry and systems biology took place on 5-7 July 2010 where invited experts discussed strategies to exploit recent advances in computational chemistry to define truly novel approaches to toxicity testing. The flash report of this meeting is available here PDF.

In 2011, the Computational chemistry Task Force proposed to organize a new meeting with experts early in 2012 to design research packages that would be needed for developing an integrated model of (mitochondrial) liver toxicity.

Special attention will be paid to Ensure complementarity with other ongoing initiatives, e.g. SEURAT-1, DILI (IMI), Tox21, virtual liver projects at EPA and in Germany.

Workshop "New Perspectives on Safety"
28-29 April 2008, Brussels
Flash report PDF

Workshop "Harnessing the Chemistry of Life: Revolutionising chemistry"
5-7 July 2010, Brussels
Programme PDF
Flash report PDF
Final report PDF

In vitro metabolism

One of the major drawbacks of most in vitro methods compared to intact organisms is at present their inability or low competence to metabolize xenobiotics. The EPAA organised a workshop on 24-25 November 2008, in Düsseldorf, to discuss the current knowledge in this field of science, and evaluate, together with regulators, what information concerning metabolism is needed to permit safety assessment of substances. In addition, the need and the possibilities to integrate metabolic competence into in vitro test systems were examined in order to make them more predictive for toxicity assessment. More detailed information can be found here.

In 2011, an EPAA Task Force (ADME TF), under the leadership of ECVAM, organized a workshop on 13-14 October in Ispra, Italy. The potential for further integration of PBTK modelling into the prediction of in vivo dose-response curves without animal experiments was examined.

Progress report on in vitro metabolism PDF

Workshop "In vitro ADME in Safety Testing", Düsseldorf, 24-25 November 2008

 

 

 

Flash Report of the workshop "Potential for further integration of toxicokinetic modeling into the prediction of in vivo dose-response curves without animal experiments" - Ispra, 13-14 October 2011 PDF