See the activities the EPAA is involved in, as well as info about relevant upcoming and past events, and links to related bodies or institutions below.
The Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc. (IIVS) has received a grant from the European partnership for alternative approaches to animal testing (EPAA) to support its annual training of Chinese scientists in non-animal testing methods. As part of the agreement, 2 scientists from BASF SE, a member of EPAA, joined IIVS to provide hands-on training in China for 4 non-animal approaches for skin sensitisation. This training followed the announcement by China's National Medical Products Association (NMPA) of acceptance of one non-animal method for skin sensitization, DPRA, which was included in the training.
EPAA organises the partners forum (PF) for its members as an opportunity to exchange information across sectors about their respective research agendas and activities in sectorial flagship initiatives (e.g. LRI, IMI, LRSS) to identify synergies and optimise the use of resources.
As a recurring event, the PF focuses each time on a different topic of common interest allowing the members to table feedback, scientific input and recommendations in EPAA. As such, attendance is limited to EPAA partners and invited speakers.
The EPAA is engaged in initiatives that foster international cooperation for harmonisation of alternative methods. These include several initiatives led by the Institute for in Vitro Sciences (IIVS) in China to train regulators and scientists on alternative methods of testing. This follows the 2012 memorandum of understanding (640 kB) between EPAA and the IIVS.
Corneal opacity and permeability (BCOP) assay
In 2014, IIVS scientists produced a video that demonstrates how to perform the bovine corneal opacity and permeability (BCOP) assay according to the test guidelines set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD TG 437).
Developed with EPAA funding, the video focuses on critical steps for the success of the assay. These include handling the isolated cornea and removal of the test material from the cornea at the conclusion of the exposure time.
The complete video is freely available on Youtube in 4 subtitled versions: English, Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish by clicking on the images below.
Chinese version/growth/file/zhpng_enzh.png
Portuguese version/growth/file/ptpng_enpt.png
Russian version/growth/file/rupng_enru.png
Spanish version/growth/file/esepaatestjpg_enes_epaa_test.jpg
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English version
3T3 phototoxicity assay
In 2015, the EPAA partners sponsored the development of another training video championing alternative methods. It was agreed to focus on the 3T3 phototoxicity assay. The video tutorial describes a cell-based in vitro method for assessing phototoxicity - the potential for chemicals to cause damage after being exposed to light. The complete video is freely available on Youtube in 4 subtitled versions: English, Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish by clicking on the images below.
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Chinese version
/growth/file/ptpng_enpt.png
Portuguese version
/growth/file/rupng_enru.png
Russian version
/growth/file/esepaatestjpg_enes_epaa_test.jpg
Spanish version
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English version