As in previous ESTIV events this conference will bring together researchers and students from academia and industry, involved in the development and use of in vitro methods in toxicology.

The scientific programme includes state-of-the-art lectures, workshops, and original communications and poster sessions. ESTIVA 2012 will cover a broad range of topics addressing systemic toxicity, local toxicity, developmental toxicity with emphasis on physiologically relevant markers, marker profiles, molecular mechanisms and pathways.

ESTIV2012 will explore challenges and successes of non-animal approaches for toxicity testing. As with previous ESTIV Conferences, a special student session will also be organized, where young researchers will be invited to briefly present their work and there will be an award for the best presentation.

For the first time and in addition to the cutting-edge topics that will be covered in the Conference, a practical workshop will be organized on the 20th October. The purpose of this workshop is to gain hands-on experience with computerized in vitro – in vivo extraplotation strategies.

In addition to the scientific programme, you will be attracted by the warm hospitality, excellent climate, rich culture and great food that Lisbon has to offer. The Conference venue is located in the new part of the city, close to the airport and the Expo waterfront.

We look forward to seeing you in Lisbon and we will work hard to offer you an excellent scientific programme and a friendly atmosphere.

Greet Schoeters
President ESTIV

Erwin rye
Chair Scientific Committee

Elsa Casimiro
Chair Local Organizing Committee

More information:
http://www.estiv2012.com/

Topics

1. 21st century non-animal tools for basic and biomedical research
   (e. g. humane disease pathways, specific disease models, transgenic animals, xenotransplantation, teratoma assays to prove pluripotency of stem cells)
2. Implementing of the Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animal used for scientific purposes
   (incl. position of the EU Commission, of EU member states and of animal welfare organisations, examples for the implementation)
3. Progress in 3Rs research: EU FP6 & FP7 projects on alternatives and member state research funding
   (e. g. status national and EU: Research topic overview and future funding policy)
4. 7th amendment of EU Cosmetics Directive: Cosmetics and animal testing – an end in sight
   (e. g. skin regulatory acceptance, eye regualtory accaptance, sensitisation, skin models and open source)
5. Chemicals: REACH and animal welfare
   (e. g. report on use of alternatives, views of companies, animal welfare, methods, search engines)
6. 3Rs progress in other sectors
   (and. g. vaccine testing, replacing mouse bioassays)
7. Inhalation toxicology & toxicology of nanomaterials
8. 3R goes 3D! Implementation of 3D methods in toxicity testing
9. GCCP – Good cell culture practice
10. Ethical and & legal issues
11. Free communications

More information:
http://www.eusaat.org/index.php/congress/2012

The decision is made: No more animal testing for cosmetics in Europe. The question is when to apply, as the March deadline 2013 fijada para dicha prohibición no parece “científicamente” posible aún.

Each year millions of animals are used worldwide for experimental and other scientific purposes. U.S. and Japan are leading, with 17 and 11 millones, respectively. The European Union (EU) estimated at more than 12 million those used in 27 Member States (last data 2008). En España, according to official data 2010, the total, although the low, amounts to more than 1,3 millones.

Mice (60%), rats (18%), Cold-blooded animals (10%), poultry (6%) and rabbits (3%), inter alia, are the most commonly used animals for scientific purposes. Most are engaged in research and development in medicine, and dentistry, veterinaria y estudios de biología fundamental.

In the case of cosmetic products, in which rats are generally used, mice and rabbits, the safety assessment of ingredients used "the 0,19% of animals for toxicity assessment, which represents the 0,017% of all animals used in experimentation ", señala a SINC Kuhn Guillermo Repetto, Area holder Toxicology at the University Pablo de Olavide (Seville) and member of the Committee of ESINCEuropean Commission (EC) sobre la disponibilidad de procedimientos alternativos para la evaluación de productos cosméticos.

"However, EU intended to stop animals used in the evaluation of cosmetic as soon as possible, for which it has established the years 2013 deadline ", Repetto aiming Kuhn, who notes that the goods in question are soaps, gels, pasta dental, moisturizers and lipsticks, entre otros.

The European Commission banned in September 2004 animal testing for finished cosmetic. In March 2009 banned the marketing within and outside the EU and some experimentation with ingredients in these products, verify that allowed the eye irritation and skin, Acute toxicity, skin penetration, la genotoxicidad y la toxicidad sistemática aguda.

But there are exceptions to these prohibitions shall not be closed until March 2013. Experiments are trying to avoid adverse effects to human health. These are the repeated dose toxicity (skin sensitivity and carcinogenicity), Reproductive toxicity (adverse effects on the reproductive system or endocrine) and toxicokinetics (effect of the chemicals within the body, distribution and metabolism).

"The European directive on this is clear: from that date there will be no animal testing for cosmetics ingredients or products already manufactured inside or outside the EU ", zanja a SINC Maurice Whelan, jefe de la Unidad de Sistemas Toxicológicos y responsable del Laboratorio de referencia de la UE para las Alternativas a la Experimentación Animal en el Centro Común de Investigación de la CE.

But despite the efforts of scientists in recent years to find other alternative to replace experimentation, "In 2013 there will be full availability of the following to the most complex areas ", noted by the Committee of Experts of the EC, Repetto involved in Kuhn. Se trata de una moratoria que ya critican los ecologistas.

Change in vitro in vivo por

The European Commission committed to alternative methods based on three Rs, the initials of 'replacement', 'Reduction' and 'refinement'. Replacement of animal procedures used by others who do not require, reduction in the number of animals used, y el refinamiento de los métodos usados para mejorar su eficacia o disminuir el dolor o sufrimiento.

"The most obvious alternative in vitro techniques, comprising the use of lower organisms, as bacteria, algae and fungi; subcellular fractions or non-biological material; and tissue slices, perfused organs and cell cultures ", explica el investigador español.

For the first case, simulate, for example, with alternative scientific tests in vitro (no pets) repeated dose toxicity, in which the chemicals enter the body that is exposed over a long period of time, is "one of the most complicated situations". "These are small doses, but you're exposed for years ", afirma Whelan.

To scientists, one of the main problems is the biokinetics. "How do we know where it goes once the chemical has entered the body and how long it stays within? Some come and focus on a particular organ like the liver or kidney, and that's hard to predict in an in vitro system ", the researcher of the European laboratory, quien añade que se necesitan además modelos computacionales para lograrlo.

According to a report by the European Commission, experts predict that by the year 2017 the 2019 can generate the information needed to make decisions on risk assessment for skin sensitization non-animal methods. Regarding the reproductive toxicity, experts estimate that it takes more than 10 años para completar el desarrollo de una estrategia de ensayo.

Another is the scientific challenges related to the metabolism, and how the body converts the chemical element that has been introduced. Sometimes it goes away, but sometimes the product is broken and can be toxic. "Again, is very difficult to simulate an in vitro ", subraya Whelan. For methods that can predict renal and biliary drainage, and the absorption in the lung, requieren al menos de cinco a siete años de desarrollo.

The good news. "We are having success converting our knowledge of biological systems in the design of intelligent systems in vitro", indicates the expert, who reveals, also, scientists have access to many tools available to new technologies such as metabonomics (which measures the metabolic profile of biofluids and other biological fluids).

Add to that the European project SEURAT 1, released in 2011 with a budget of 50 millones de euros, comprising six research projects, collaboration 70 partners, y cuyo principal objetivo es desarrollar herramientas avanzadas y probar conceptos clave que allanen el camino para reemplazar el uso de animales en los experimentos sobre la toxicidad por dosis repetidas.

Besides being the largest European research initiative on scientific safety assessment and alternative, is the first public-private partnership of its kind. "It's a big step", afirma el investigador.

En España, is the Spanish Network for the Development of Alternative Methods to animal testing (REMA) that "integrates and coordinates the efforts of millioninistration and society (animal and consumer protection) with the scientific world to promote the development, validation, application and implementation of alternative methods, especially of the procedures in vitro ", information Repetto Kuhn, que es también el presidente de REMA.

Despite not meeting the targets set for 2013, Scientists join forces to ensure that rats and guinea pigs are free of experimentation for cosmetics. Solo es cuestión de tiempo que lo logren.

By Adeline Marcos