10 December 2007
‘Alternatives in Toxicity Testing’ website launch
AltTox.org is already creating a buzz. It’s a brand new website dedicated to non-animal methods of toxicity testing, overseen by the Humane Society of the US. Just launched, it covers alternatives in testing industrial chemicals, consumer products, drugs, and eventually pesticides and food additives too.
The website addresses various toxicity endpoints, mostly human health effects such as neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity and skin toxicity. Current and emerging technologies that can help the move towards non-animal-based assessments are reviewed, for example (Q)SARs and cell technologies, as well as relevant programmes and policies such as REACH, and overarching challenges and opportunities.
Interestingly, as well as having a resource centre with over 30 thought-provoking commentaries, AltTox.org hosts a set of interactive discussion forums. These provide opportunities for stakeholders to debate technical and policy issues relevant to non-animal testing. Each discussion forum has a moderator and the moderators collectively constitute AltTox’s editorial board.
The commentaries, one of which is written by the Dr Hadwen Trust’s Science Director, Dr Gill Langley, are intended to provide a starting point for the discussion forums in thinking about the way forward. The Dr Hadwen Trust welcomes this new website and we hope it will continue toxicology’s move away from reliance on animal-based approaches.