AltTox.org Forums are interactive communication platforms intended to encourage the exchange of ideas and information. The Forums provide an opportunity for stakeholders in industry, government, academia, and nongovernmental organizations to establish an online community to discuss challenges and opportunities to advance various aspects of nonanimal methods for toxicity testing. The AltTox Management Team envisions the Forums as a driving force for change.
Everyone visiting AltTox.org is welcome to browse and read the forum discussions. However, registration is required for posting content to a forum. Anonymous postings are not allowed, and inappropriate postings will be removed. Please see the Forum User Agreement for further information.
Each forum is moderated by an expert in the field. Moderators are tasked with monitoring postings as well as initiating and participating in discussions.
The 15 forums on AltTox.org are grouped into 4 categories: Toxicity Endpoints & Tests, Emerging Technologies, Programs & Policies, and Overarching Challenges & Opportunities. Forum users are encouraged to participate in any of the four categories depending on their interest and expertise. The following section provides additional details on the AltTox.org Forums.
Toxicity Endpoints & Tests Forums
The scope of each forum in the Toxicity Endpoints & Tests section includes past, present, and possible future activities relevant to the development, validation, peer review, regulatory acceptance, implementation, and/or international harmonization of nonanimal methods for assessing the toxic effects of substances in that topic area. Postings about new or existing in vitro and in silico methods for a particular human or environmental health endpoint, the use of these methods in testing schemes, validation issues, and the like are appropriate topics for discussion. Postings are also welcome on issues related to policy, technical aspects of toxicity testing, and aspects of in vivo testing that are relevant to nonanimal methods. Postings that discuss technologies that are themselves the subject of an Emerging Technologies Forum (see below) are welcome in the Toxicity Endpoints & Tests forums when they address specific applications of this technology.
The forums in the Toxicity Endpoints & Tests section are as follows:
Acute Systemic Toxicity: Assessment of the toxic effects of substances on the whole organism (i.e., systemic effects) from short-term exposure via the oral, skin, or inhalation routes. Moderator: Horst Spielmann
Ecotoxicity: Assessment of the toxic effects of substances on the environment using toxicity tests in representative animal species. Moderator: TBD
Eye & Skin Irritation: Assessment of the toxic effects of substances on the eye and/or skin using toxicity tests that evaluate eye and/or skin irritation/corrosion. Moderator: Rodger Curren
Genotoxicity/Carcinogenicity: Assessment of the cancer-causing effects of substances, including assessment of those substances that induce changes to the structure of genes, causing chromosomal aberrations and mutations. Moderator: Marilyn Aardema
Neurotoxicity: Assessment of the toxic effects of substances on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. Moderator: William Mundy
Organ Toxicity: Assessment of the toxic effects of substances on specific organs resulting from subchronic or chronic exposure via the oral, skin, or inhalation routes. Moderator: Albert Li
Pharmacokinetics & Metabolism: Assessment of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (AMDE) of potentially toxic substances by an organism. Moderator: John Lipscomb
Reproductive/Developmental: Assessment of the toxic effects of substances on male or female reproductive systems and/or fetal development (e.g., teratogenic effects). Moderator: George Daston
Skin Sensitization: Assessment of the capacity of substances to cause allergic contact dermatitis (skin sensitization reactions). Moderator: Ian Kimber
Emerging Technologies Forums
These forums will focus on the general application of various nonanimal technologies to toxicity testing. Postings on specific applications of this technology to a specific toxicity endpoint (e.g., skin sensitization) should be directed to the appropriate Toxicity Endpoint & Test forum, above.
Cell-based Technologies: cell culture methods and test systems, including methods such as organotypic models and "organ on a chip" approaches. Moderator: May Griffith
Integrated Testing Strategies & Risk Assessment: includes methods and approaches to risk assessment (e.g., integrated testing strategies, simple read-across, structure activity relationships, threshold of toxicological concern, and other approaches that will spare animals). Moderator: Christopher Portier
Omics, Computational Toxicity & Bioinformatics: includes genomics, proteomics, metabonomics, and the computational methods and bioinformatics tools needed to utilize the data generated by these technologies. Moderator: George Daston
(Q)SAR ((Quantitative) Structure-Activity Relationships): includes the use of Structure Activity Relationships and (Q)SAR to predict associations between chemical structure and biological activity/toxicity. Moderator: Grace Patlewicz
Programs & Policies Forum
This forum addresses relevant legislation (e.g., REACH; the EU Cosmetics Directive), stakeholder efforts to address such legislation, large-scale testing programs (e.g., endocrine disruption), sector-specific testing (e.g., pesticides), validation efforts related to these programs and sectors, government policies on animal testing and alternatives, lobbying efforts to influence such programs and policies, and related topics. Moderator: Martin Stephens
Overarching Challenges & Opportunities Forum
This forum addresses overarching scientific, logistical, and/or policy issues that are perceived as challenges or barriers to progress. Discussions are welcomed on topics such as challenges (barriers) to the field and potential solutions, opportunities or strategies to speed progress, and proposals to secure government funding for alternative methods. Issues related to specific programs or policies should be posted in the Programs & Policies Forum. Moderator: Alan Goldberg
|
