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Please send them to info@alttox.org; include your name and affiliation so that we can credit you as the contributor! If you will be contributing news items frequently and would prefer to post them yourself, please request a new log-in ID and instructions from info@alttox.org.

Guidance for Community Blog readers and contributors

The AltTox Community Blog replaced the AltTox Forum February 2015. The messages in the archived AltTox Forum, however, are still available for reading.

AltTox.org users are welcome to browse and read Community Blog messages. Only registered users, however, can post messages directly to the blog.

Blog User Agreement for registered users:
  • appropriate content includes scientific and policy news related to in vitro and in silico methods for toxicity testing, meeting announcements, funding information, and other relevant information
  • the Blog is moderated, and messages beyond the scope of AltTox or otherwise inappropriate will be removed
  • copyrighted material will not be posted without permission
  • sources of information and related links (when known/available) will be included
  • advertisements are not permitted
  • messages posted by external parties express the views of the author, and not necessarily the views of AltTox team members or AltTox sponsors; AltTox does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information presented by external parties

Please report offensive or inappropriate content to info@alttox.org

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Beyond Science and Decisions: From Problem Formulation to Dose-Response Assessment (Workshop 9)

Author: Lynne Haber, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA) Beyond Science & Decisions – Workshop 9 June 9-10, 2015 Cincinnati, Ohio – University of Cincinnati, Kettering Laboratory Auditorium Almost 60 organizations have come together under the aegis of the Alliance for Risk Assessment (ARA), to conduct a series of meetings, with the ultimate goal of […]
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USDA APHIS NOTICE: VS Memorandum 800.112 Guidelines for Validation of In Vitro Potency Assays

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox The Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) recently added [05/07/2015] VS Memo 800.112 to its website, which may be accessed by clicking the following link: CVB Newly Published Information (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_animal_health%2Fsa_vet_biologics%2Fct_vb_newly_published_info). This memorandum provides guidance concerning the information a firm should provide when submitting a new potency assay for consideration by the Center for Veterinary Biologics […]
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Upcoming NRC Workshop: Metabolomics as Tool for Characterizing Exposome

Contributor: Solmaz Spence, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Metabolomics—the study of the chemical fingerprints that cellular processes leave behind—is emerging as an important way to characterize exposure. On May 28-29, join the committee on Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions and researchers, professionals, and policy experts for a free workshop that will explore […]
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International Conference on Harmonization Regional Public Meeting, May 15

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox [Also see the related blog post on April 13.] Preparation for International Conference on Harmonization Steering Committee and Expert Working Group Meetings in Fukuoka, Japan; Public Meeting Source: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/NewsEvents/ucm439475.htm The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is holding a regional public meeting on May 15, 2015, to provide information and receive comments […]
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NTP Requests Comments on Human “S1500” Gene Set

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The National Toxicology Program (NTP) requests comments on a set of human genes that have been identified and prioritized as environmentally responsive genes. This set of approximately 1500 “sentinel” genes was developed with input from the scientific community, to be used in toxicogenomics studies to screen human cells or […]
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FDA Science Forum

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold a Science Forum on May 27-28 at their White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Forum will highlight the FDA’s cutting-edge research, demonstrate how this research informs FDA’s regulatory decision-making, and provide an opportunity for internal and external participants […]
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Assessing CDERs Safety-Related Regulatory Science Needs and Identifying Priorities: Report and Request for Comments by May 18

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox This report (March 2015; “Assessing CDERs Drug Safety Related Regulatory Science Needs and Identifying Priorities Report”) identifies drug safety-related regulatory science needs and priorities related to the mission of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) that would benefit from external collaborations and resources. FDA hopes to foster collaborations with […]
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Reminder: Deadline April 30 for Grants from the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation (ARDF)

Author: Sue A. Leary, Alternatives Research & Development Foundation (ARDF) The deadline is fast approaching for applications to the Alternatives Research Grant Program of ARDF. Grants of up to $40,000 are available to support individual projects of scientific merit and feasibility with potential to significantly reduce or replace laboratory animal use. Preference will be given […]
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ICCVAM Public Forum May 27

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) will hold a Public Forum on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the National Institutes of Health Natcher Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Representatives of the federal agencies on ICCVAM will be present […]
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Health Canada and United States Food and Drug Administration Joint Public Consultation on ICH Guidelines on May 15, 2015

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox Source: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/consultation/drug-medic/ich_fda_rcc_ccr_notice_avis-eng.php On February 4, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and United States President Barack Obama announced the creation of the Canada-United States (U.S.) Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) to better align the two countries’ regulatory approaches, where possible. Under the RCC initiative, Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration […]
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The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES), NIH: Hands-on Lecture & Laboratory Training Workshops

Author: Kate Willett, HSUS The following laboratory training workshops are being offered at NIH: Bio Tech 39 | 4-Day Epigenetics (Apr 14-17, 2015) BioTech 23 | 4-Day Flow Cytometry: Principles and Methods (April 28 – May 1, 2015) BioTech 7 | 5-Day Animal and Human Cell Culture: Method and Applications (May 11–15, 2015) BioTech 27 […]
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PETA and PCRM researchers publish on in vitro methods for assessing tobacco toxicity. Survey supports prioritizing in vitro methods over animal studies.

Author: Joseph Manuppello, PETA Public Release: 1-Apr-2015 The tobacco industry and regulatory authorities should support more relevant and less costly in vitro toxicology testing methods over unreliable animal testing, according to a review of research advances published this week in the comment pages of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Alternatives to Laboratory Animals The article by […]
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Public consultation on Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) Approach; deadline April 12

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox “The Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) is a methodology that may be used to assess potential human health concerns for a chemical based on its chemical characteristics and estimated exposure when chemical-specific toxicity data are scarce or absent. Overall, the TTC approach integrates data on exposure, chemical structure, metabolism, and toxicity […]
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FDA Meeting on Alternative In Vitro Bioequivalence Pathways – April 16

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox Source: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm438068.htm On April 16, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will sponsor a public meeting to discuss the use of in vitro methods as a mechanism for assessing the in vivo product bioequivalence (BE) of non-systemically absorbed (locally acting) drug products intended for use in veterinary species. The meeting […]
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Big Data Outreach Meeting at SOT Meeting on March 23

Author: Marilyn Matevia, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) “A discussion of the NIH BD2K initiative and how it might advance the practice of Toxicology and Risk Assessment The fields of toxicology, pharmacology and risk assessment are undergoing a revolution in the use of pathway-based approaches to evaluate the biological effects of chemicals. […]
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Request for Proposals

Author: Jessica Sandler, PETA International Science Consortium Ltd The PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. (PISC), recently organized an international workshop that was held at the US EPA headquarters in Washington, DC on February 24-25, 2015. The workshop included experts from different sectors and disciplines to discuss the technical details for the development of an in […]
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Nominations sought for iPSC GCCP workshop

Author: Kristie Sullivan, PCRM The ASCCT is supporting efforts of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) at Johns Hopkins University to codify Good Cell Culture Practice (GCCP) for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. With this email, we would like to request nominations (including self) for participation in a 2.5-day workshop to take place […]
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Call for Abstracts: Computational toxicology – from QSAR models to Adverse Outcome Pathways

Author: Marilyn Matevia, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Abstract submissions are welcome for the oral presentations in the above American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Chemical Information (CINF) Symposium at the ACS Fall 2015 Meeting in Boston, MA, August 16-20, 2015 (http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/meetings/boston—fall-2015.html). The session is expected to cover the recent trends in […]
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Call for Interest: Participation at the Cosmetics Europe Long Range Science Strategy (LRSS) AAT Research Programme 2016-2020

Author: Marilyn Matevia, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Cosmetics Europe is setting up a research consortium to advance non-animal testing and invites “interested parties with a vested interest in research areas covered by the LRSS Research Programme” to join. Following is the full text of the announcement, including deadline and contact information: […]
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NICEATM and ICCVAM Activities at SOT

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology is March 22–26 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. NICEATM and ICCVAM activities at SOT include: NICEATM Director Dr. Warren Casey will co-chair sessions titled “Applications of ToxCast/Tox21 Data: Confidence and Predictivity” and “Incorporating In Vitro Pharmacokinetic […]
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National Library of Medicine Seeks Input on Mission and Vision

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has issued a Request for Information on the current value and future need for NLM programs, resources, research and training efforts, and services such as databases, software and collections. Input is requested from the general public and specifically from stakeholder groups such as […]
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FDA Hosts Workshop on Systematic Review – March 9

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a workshop titled “What is Systematic Review? An Introductory Course” on March 9 at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in College Park, Maryland. This workshop will present a framework for systematic review and evidence integration for reaching hazard […]
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ICCVAM Webinar on Reverse Toxicokinetic Models: Presentations and Video Available

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM Slides and a video recording are now available from the ICCVAM January 27 Communities of Practice webinar on “Reverse Toxicokinetics: Using In Vitro Data to Estimate Exposures that Could Be Associated with Adverse Effects In Vivo.” Links to both are available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/ivive-webinar.
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Baden-Württemberg calls for applications for research funding and 3Rs prize

Author: Sonja von Aulock, ALTEX The Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg is accepting applications for research funding to a total of € 400,000 and for the 3Rs prize for exceptional contributions to reducing or refining animal experiments in research or education, which carries prize money of € 25,000. Eligible research projects […]
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PISC Statement on REACH Annex inclusion of EORGTS

Author: Jessica Sandler, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Three years after the extended one-generation reproductive toxicity test (EORGTS) – which has the potential to halve the number of animals used in reproductive tests – was accepted by the OECD, the EORGTS has been incorporated into the REACH Annexes. At the same time, however, […]
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International Foundation for Ethical Research Graduate Fellowships

Author: Marilyn Matevia, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) The International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER), a program of the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), is now accepting pre-proposal applications for its 2015-2016 Graduate Fellowships. Applications are due no later than 5:00 pm CDT on Monday, April 20, 2015. IFER Graduate Fellowships are one-year […]
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Grants Available from the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation

Author: Marilyn Matevia, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) The Alternatives Research and Development Foundation (ARDF) is soliciting proposals for its 2015 Alternatives Research Grant Program. Grants of up to $40,000 are available to support individual projects of scientific merit and feasibility with potential to significantly reduce or replace laboratory animal use. Preference […]
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EFSA/WHO draft report on TTC approach open for public comment until March 29

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox Source: EFSA “News in brief” (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/150212a.htm) February 12, 2015 EFSA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have published the draft conclusions and recommendations of their joint workshop on the Threshold of Toxicological Concern approach. The report is now open for public consultation until 29 March. The aim of the three-day expert […]
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OECD publishes two Test Guidelines on human hazard endpoint skin sensitization

Author: Marilyn Matevia, HSUS From the OECD: “The OECD has just published two new Test Guidelines on human health hazard endpoint skin sensitisation. Skin sensitisation refers to an allergic response following skin contact with the tested chemical, as defined by the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN GHS). Test […]
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EPA invitation for comments on Draft EDSP Test Guidelines

Author: Marilyn Matevia, HSUS “Draft Test Guidelines; Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Test Guidelines (Series 890); Three Tier 2 Non-Mammalian Tests; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment Pages 5107 – 5109 [FR DOC # 2015-01836] SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of three draft test guidelines for public review and comment that are being added […]
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Webinar on Alternative Approaches to Acute Toxicity Testing March 5

Author: Gilly Stoddart, PETA International Science Consortium, Ltd. The PETA International Science Consortium Ltd., Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, and Chemical Watch are pleased to invite you to a webinar discussion on acute systemic toxicity. This webinar is the fifth in a series of six […]
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Upcoming Class in Baltimore, Maryland: Revolution in Toxicology 101

Author: Jamie Derita, Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing Newbie Upcoming Class in Baltimore: Revolution in Toxicology 101 February 24-25, 2015 Mt Washington Conference Center 5801 Smith Avenue Baltimore, MD 21209 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Toxicology is undergoing revolutionary change in the early 21st century. It’s not easy, however, to achieve an overview of these […]
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EU funding: New approaches to improve predictive human safety testing

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox The application deadline of February 24, 2015 is approaching for Horizon 2020 program’s call for proposals, “New approaches to improve predictive human safety testing” (PHC-3-2015) (https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal4/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/9078-phc-33-2015.html#tab1). “Scope: Proposals should capitalise on advances in all relevant fields of science to understand complex biological pathways of toxicological relevance and to identify early markers […]
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NIH events in February: NCATS Workshop and AIMBE/NIH Workshop

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox Both events are free but have registration limitations. NCATS Assay Guidance Workshop for High-Throughput Screening and Lead Discovery: http://www.ncats.nih.gov/news-and-events/events/events.html Fifth AIMBE/NIH Workshop on Validation and Qualification of New In Vitro Tools and Models for the Pre-clinical Drug Discovery Process http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/meetings-events/fifth-aimbenih-workshop-validation-and-qualification-new-vitro-tools-and
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New FRAME Experimental Design school arranged

Author: Horst Spielmann, Free University Berlin, Professor for Regulstory Toxicology & retired from ZEBET at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Next FRAME Training School announced The next FRAME Training School will be held at the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal on 30 March – 1 April 2015. Training School Background FRAME runs regular training […]
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NTP Releases Handbook on Systematic Review

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The NTP Office of Heath Assessment and Translation (OHAT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has released a handbook describing standard operating procedures for implementing systematic review in OHAT evaluations. The handbook also includes OHAT’s tool for assessing study quality, or “risk of bias,” that applies a […]
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NTP Offers Travel Awards

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is seeking to increase awareness and familiarity within the research community with high-throughput screening efforts and associated data and tools, and to foster the training of postdoctoral fellows and new and early-stage investigators in this area. As part of this effort, NTP will provide […]
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Workshop on In Vitro Tools and Models for Drug Discovery

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM A free workshop on “Validation and Qualification of New In Vitro Tools and Models for the Pre-clinical Drug Discovery Process” will be presented at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on February 12. The workshop is being organized by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) in […]
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Draft EPA Process Document Available for Comment

Author: Catherine Sprankle, ILS/Contractor supporting NICEATM A draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency document describing a “Process for Establishing and Implementing Alternative Approaches to Traditional In Vivo Acute Toxicity Studies” is now available for comment. The document describes a transparent, stepwise process for evaluating and implementing alternative methods of testing for acute oral, dermal, and inhalation […]
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Sad News

Author: Catherine Willett, HSUS The Management Team at AltTox would like to express our deep shock and sadness at the sudden loss of a great friend and colleague and AltTox Editorial Board member, Ed Carney. Ed was a leading reproductive toxicologist who contributed enormously to the fields of predictive toxicology and toxicokinetics. He was an […]
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Funding Announcement for predictive multiscale models for biomedical research

Author: Sherry Ward, AltTox Funding Opportunity Announcement: Predictive Multiscale Models for Biomedical, Biological, Behavioral, Environmental, and Clinical Research (PAR-15-085): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-085.html Purpose The goal of this interagency funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support the development of multiscale models to accelerate biological, biomedical, behavioral, environmental and clinical research. The NIH, ARO, DOE, FDA, NASA, NSF, and […]
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Reminder: ICCVAM webinar on Reverse Toxicokinetics – January 27, 2015

Author: Marilyn Matevia, HSUS Reminder from ICCVAM: “ICCVAM TO PRESENT WEBINAR ON REVERSE TOXICOKINETIC MODELS ICCVAM is presenting a webinar on ‘Reverse Toxicokinetics: Using In Vitro Data to Estimate Exposures that Could Be Associated with Adverse Effects In Vivo’ on January 27. The webinar will focus on the development and application of reverse toxicokinetic models […]
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OPP’s process for alt approaches to traditional in vivo acute toxicity studies

Author: Jessica Sandler, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals PETA is pleased that the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has taken the next step in establishing a process for accepting alternative approaches to animal testing when evaluating pesticide toxicity by releasing a draft document entitled “Process for establishing & implementing alternative approaches to […]
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The AltTox Forum is now the AltTox Community Blog. To search historical postings from the AltTox Forum, visit its original address. For instructions on posting or subscribing, click on the teal box at the top of this page.

The views expressed in the AltTox Community Blog are those of the individuals posting them and not necessarily those of their home institution.