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The U.S. is moving towards
non-animal testing methods |
For more than 30 years, The Humane Society of the United states has been a strong advocate of the "3Rs" as the primary basis for humane progress in animal research. Specifically, we've called for the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use in biomedical procedures.
The 3Rs, also known as alternative methods, have gained the most traction in the field of toxicity testing, in which the potentially harmful effects of chemicals and other agents have historically been assessed in animals. Several recent developments have catapulted alternative testing methods, especially replacement methods, into prominence.
In June 2007, the National Research Council issued a new vision and strategy for the future of toxicity testing. It relies heavily (and eventually, maybe exclusively) on non-animal methods. And in February 2008, three federal agencies announced a collaborative agreement to develop the kind of "high throughput" non-animal methods envisioned in the NRC report.
Such non-animal methods tend to fall into two categories: "in vitro" methods involve cells, tissues, or molecules in the modern-day version of test tubes, and "in silico methods" rely on computer-based modeling of biological processes.
AltTox.org: Advancing Alternatives
The HSUS anticipated the rising prominence of non-animal methods in toxicity testing and has been working with the Procter & Gamble Company to develop a website devoted exclusively to the advancement of alternative methods.
Launched in December 2007, AltTox.org is tailored for professionals working in industry, government, academia, animal protection, and other relevant fields. The site's aim: to create an online community of professionals dedicated to advancing non-animal methods of testing. In the site's forums and commentaries, the AltTox.org community is stimulating international progress in the development, validation, and acceptance of non-animal methods, with the goals of decreasing reliance on animal-based safety testing and on better safeguarding public health.
Tour the Site
AltTox.org was constructed to encourage the exchange of technical and policy information on non-animal methods—not simply serve as a static repository of information. It consists of three interconnected components:
- a series of discussion forums
- an informational resource center
- a series of "Way Forward" commentaries
The interactive Forums encourage user discussion and commentary and are designed to be a driving force for innovation and change. Each AltTox.org Forum is overseen by a moderator who is an expert in the field covered by that Forum.
The Toxicity Testing Resource Center serves as a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in toxicity testing and non-animal alternative test methods. The Way Forward expert commentaries are invited essays that address what is needed to advance non-animal testing alternatives. The topics in the resource center and the Way Forward commentaries are cross-linked to relevant AltTox Forums.
The Forums cover a range of topics within four categories:
The Toxicity Testing Resource Center provides succinct, current information on a variety of topics, including:
- Current animal-based approaches in toxicity testing
- Current and emerging non-animal approaches in toxicity testing
- Stakeholder programs and policies
- Validation and regulatory acceptance processes and achievements
- Challenges and opportunities
- Informational resources, including organizations, journals, databases, testing services and supplies, sources of funding, and upcoming events
The HSUS and Procter & Gamble are greatly indebted to an editorial board of distinguished subject matter experts oversee the website content. These editors also serve as forum moderators.
For more information, email info@AltTox.org
AltTox Forum Moderators/Editorial Board:
- Acute Systemic Toxicity: Horst Spielmann, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Germany)
- Ecotoxicity: OPEN
- Eye & Skin Irritation: Rodger Curren, Institute for In Vitro Sciences (United States)
- Genotoxicity/Carcinogenicity: Marilyn Aardema, Procter & Gamble (United States)
- Neurotoxicity: William Mundy, Environmental Protection Agency (United States)
- Organ Toxicity: Albert Li, In Vitro ADMET Laboratories (United States)
- Pharmacokinetics & Metabolism: John Lipscomb, Environmental Protection Agency (United States)
- Reproductive & Developmental Toxicity: George Daston, Procter & Gamble (United States)
- Skin Sensitization: Ian Kimber, University of Manchester (United Kingdom)
- Cell-based Technologies: May Griffith, University of Ottawa (Canada)
- Integrated Testing Strategies & Risk Assessment: Christopher Portier, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (United States)
- Omics, Computational Toxicology & Bioinformatics: OPEN
- (Q)SAR: Grace Patlewicz, DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences (United States)
- Programs & Policies: Martin Stephens, The Humane Society of the United States (United States)
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