![]() |
|
© Institute for In Vitro Sciences |
Over the last 20 years, the European Framework Programmes for Research and Technology Development have contributed more than 200 million € toward the development of non-animal models for drug development, chemical toxicity and ecotoxicology and product safety assessment. Earlier this year, an additional 50 million € in funding has been provided under the EU/COLIPA Joint Research Initiative aimed at developing replacement approaches for repeated dose toxicity. The following are specific EU-funded projects with the potential to lay the ground for a shift toward a new, innovative approach in toxicology.
ACuteTox Optimisation and pre-validation of an in vitro test strategy for predicting human acute toxicity
ARTEMIS In vitro neural tissue system for replacement of transgenic animals with memory/learning deficiencies
BioSim Network of excellence on biological, pathological and pharmacological processes
CADASTER Case studies on the development and application of in silico techniques for environmental hazard and risk assessment
CarcinoGENOMICS Development of high throughput genomics-based tests for assessing genotoxic and carcinogenic properties of chemical compounds in vitro
COACH Coordination of projects on alternative approaches to assess repeated dose toxicity of cosmetics and chemicals
COMICS Comet assay and cell array for fast and efficient genotoxicity testing
COSMOS Integrated in silico models for the prediction of human repeated dose toxicity of cosmetics to optimise safety
DETECTIVE Detection of endpoints and biomarkers for repeated dose toxicity
ESNATS Embryonic stem cell-based novel alternative testing strategies
EXERA Development of 3D in vitro models of estrogen-reporter mouse tissues for the pharmaco-toxicological analysis of nuclear receptor-interacting compounds
HeMiBio Hepatic microfluidic bioreactor
INVITROHEART Reducing animal experimentation in drug testing by human cardiomyocyte in vitro models derived from embryonic stem cells
LIINTOP Optimisation of liver and intesting in vitro models for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies
MEMTRANS Membrane transporters: in vitro models for the study of their role in drug fate
NanoTEST Development of methodology for alternative testing strategies for the assessment of the toxicological profile of nanoparticles used in medical diagnostics
NOTOX Predicting long-term toxic effects using computer models based on systems characterisation of organotypic cultures
OpenTox Promotion, development, acceptance and implementation of QSARs for toxicology
OSIRIS Optimized Strategies for Risk Assessment of Industrial Chemicals through Integration of Non-Test and Test Information
PREDICT-IV Profiling the toxicity of new drugs: a non-animal-based approach integrating toxicodynamics and biokinetics
Predictomics Short-term in vitro assays for long-term toxicity
ReproTect Development of a novel approach in hazard and risk assessment of reproductive toxicity by a combination and application of in vitro, tissue and sensor technologies
SCR&Tox Stem cells for relevant, efficient, extended, and normalised toxicology
Sens-it-iv Novel testing strategies for in vitro assessment of allergens
SEURAT-1 Towards the replacement of in vivo repeated dose systemic toxicity testing
ToxBank Supporting integrated data analysis and servicing of alternative test methods in toxicology
TOXDROP Innovative ‘cell-on-chip’ technology to screen chemicals for toxicity, using cultured cells with tiny ‘nanodrops’ of culture fluid
Virtual Physiological Human EU network of excellence to support progress in biomedical modelling and simulation of the human body
VITROCELLOMICS Reducing animal experimentation in preclinical predictive drug testing by human hepatic in vitro models derived from embryonic stem cells