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SUBMIT NEWS
If any news of interest are not listed below, you can submit them to us. They will be added on this page after approval. |
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2010-06-30: Mid-2010 update on: carcinoGENOMICS
The carcinoGENOMICS project board met in Brussels on 27-28 May in combination with a capacity-building meeting. This was an internal meeting, to which regulators from the European Medicines
Agency Working Group as well as the Dutch chemical authority RIVM and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development were invited for discussions. The theme of the interdisciplinary
workshop was “Testing first project results on the target audience: regulators.” The sessions dealt with:
- Initial statements and views, with contributions from Coenrad Hendriksen and Arthur Van Iersel (Netherlands Vaccine Institute), Bernward Garthoff (BIO.NRW, Germany), and Vera Rogiers (Vrije
Universiteit Brussel).
- Results and data related to and impact on risk assessment, with contributions from M. Ryan (University College of Dublin), Hans Gmuender (Genedata, Switzerland), Hector Keun (Imperial College,
London), and Raffaella Corvi (ECVAM/JRC).
This was followed by a wrap-up by Herman Koëter and a final discussion session moderated by Bernward Garthoff. In this discussion, the regulators present took a very active part and
explained their point of view. The project coordinator, Jos Kleinjans, had been invited before this workshop already to a meeting of the EMEA Working Group following the week thereafter.
The next project board meeting will take place in Copenhagen, DK, on 9-10 September 2010. The next annual consortium meeting takes place in Arona, Italy on 8-10 November 2010. |
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2010-06-30: Mid-2010 update on: ESNATS
ESNATS held its general consortium meeting from 26-28 April at the Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy. This meeting had as a main goal to discuss the progress made in the two years since the
project’s inception, to discuss and agree on different project-related topics, and to organise activities in the third year of the project’s intended five-year existence.
After the coordinator,
Jürgen Hescheler, opened the meeting, the different sub-projects presented their progress, achievements and future outlooks. Sub-project 1 “Reproductive toxicity” was
presented by K. Nayernia (University of Newcastle upon Tyne); sub-project 2 “Neurotoxicity” by L. Stoppini (University of Geneve); sub-project 3 “ESC-based toxicogenomics and toxicoproteomics
signatures” by A. Sachinidis (University of Cologne); and sub-project 4 “Toxicokinetics, metabolism and modelling” by Jürgen Hengstler (Leibniz Research Centre for Working
Environment and Human Factors). Conclusions from the steering committee regarding reference compounds and the main results of Work Package 3 were presented. Topics such as the
ESNATS testing strategy, gene array studies in ESNATS, the ESNATS database and culturing and quality control were discussed in detail. Management issues were also addressed,
such as reporting for the second year as well as financial and contractual issues.
The second day of the meeting addressed the topics of protocol scale-up and implications for automation and the
current status of the cell systems. After this, a presentation about ongoing and finished work in project ethics was given by D. Bruce, Edinethics. This was followed by a presentation
about project dissemination activities by J. Winkler (UKK ), S. Skogsäter (ARTTIC) and
B. Garthoff (ecopa), including the next workshop that will be held in March 2011 and the project’s second annual “summer school” in Tallinn, Estonia from 19-23 September 2010. |
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2010-06-30: Mid-2010 update on: ReProTect
The ReProTect project officially ended at the end of 2009 following the final Annual General Meeting in Italy on December 7. In addition to the preparation of a final project
report for public dissemination, the report and recommendations of an ECVAM/ReProTect Workshop entitled Implementation of the Embryonic Stem Cell Test has been published in ATLA. |
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2010-06-30: Mid-2010 update on: Sens-it-iv
A 4th general assembly of the project was held on 26-28 April in Berlin, during which the work packages had the opportunity to discuss their implementation plan for the next months.
In response to feedback from the Scientific Advisory Board, some of the assays under development were (at least temporarily) abandoned due to scientific or technical problems; others were determined
to require more research years than were available within the Sens-it-iv lifespan; some were found wanting either in scientific merit and/or in robustness, while in yet another results of a small
ring trial indicated reproducibility problems.
At the 5th general assembly on 26-28 October, the consortium will consider which tests might be ready for pre-validation past the lifespan of the Sens-it-iv
project. It is hoped that funding can be found to continue research and development on those tests that have then not yet reached that stage but which are believed to show real
promise.
ecopa has assumed the responsibility for "spreading the news/results" of this EU project, and released a brochure covering the activities on behalf of Sens-it-iv, and supported the website
creation. Additionally, the latest project newsletter is now available. |
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2010-06-30: Mid-2010 update on: START-UP
Reports from the three START-UP workshops on refinement, reduction and replacement have been compiled and supplied to the European Commission in April 2010, together with recommendations
and road maps.This final document will be used to produce
a booklet about the START-UP project for distribution to the general public. |
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2010-03-01: Submission of abstracts for ESTIV 2010 | EUSAAT 2010 | Linz 2010 is now open
Abstracts can now be submitted for the forthcoming congress ESTIV 2010 / EUSAAT 2010 / Linz 2010, which will take place in Linz, Austria on September 2 – 4, 2010. The deadline for the submission of lectures is April 30, 2010, deadline for the submission of posters is May 28, 2010.
For more information:
http://www.eusaat.org/index.php/2010/submissionofabstracts |
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2009-11-10: EPAA Press Release
The EPAA has released a press release following their 2009 Annual Meeting, which took place on November 6, 2009 at the Charlemagne building of the EC, in Brussels. The theme of this
meeting was dissemination.
For more information:
www.epaa.eu.com |
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2009-09-21: ECVAM has launched an open call
The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has launched an open call to invite laboratories to participate in the initial phase (phase III prevalidation) of the evaluation of three test methods designed for the assessment of the skin sensitisation potential of substances. The three methods are: 1) the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay, 2) the Myeloid U937 Skin Sensitisation Test (MUSST) and 3) the human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT). Within this project the selected laboratories will work in close contact with multinational companies as well as the European Commission Joint Research Centre.
All relevant information including the technical specifications can be found at:
http://web.jrc.ec.europa.eu/callsfortender/index.cfm?action=app.homepage&institute=6
Deadline for submitting an offer:
13/10/2009 23:59 |
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2009-07-29: ECVAM is renewing its Advisory Structure
ECVAM, the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods is renewing its Scientific Advisory Structure. An Open Call for the Expression of interest to become a member of the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC) has been published. For more information: http://ecvam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.htm. Deadline is 30 September 2009.
The 19 ESAC members will be in charge of advising ECVAM on all scientific aspects of its work and in particular with regard to the scientific validity of methods that would replace, reduce or refine animal experiments. The ECVAM plenary will be supported by specialist experts who will prepare peer reviews of validation reports and provide specialist input to ESAC whenever needed. |
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2008-11-12: 9th Annual ecopa Workshop
The 9th Annual ecopa Workshop will take place on November 29-30, 2008 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Brussels.
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2008-10-27: Eurogroup withdraws from EPAA
Eurogroup has decided to withdraw from the European Partnership on Alternative Approaches (EPAA) after receiving word that the European Commission has yet again delayed the publication of the proposal for new legislation on the protection of research animals. We have been awaiting the new proposal since the conclusion of the first inter-service consultation between DG Environment and DG Research over a year ago. Eurogroup has sent a number of letters to the Commission which have
all gone without reply and we now feel that our position as member of the EPAA's mirror group has become untenable.
Read Eurogroup's latest letter to the Commission:
http://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/members_only/pdf/withdrawalEPAA171008.pdf |
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2008-09-13: Research positions BfR
There are research positions available at The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) Berlin. Please check the following documents.
Job Opportunity 534
Job Opportunity 535
Job Opportunity 536
Job Opportunity 537
Job Opportunity 538
Job Opportunity 539 |
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2008-09-08: Two new projects initiated by the 3R Research Foundation Switzerland
Evaluation of lipid fractions for the substitution of serum in cell culture media
Prof. Paul Honegger and Dr. Marie-Gabrielle Zurich, Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
http://www.forschung3r.ch/en/projects/pr_109_08.html
Development of an in-vitro assay for the screening of antischistosomal drugs
Prof. Jennifer Keiser, Swiss Tropical Institute, University of Basle, Switzerland
http://www.forschung3r.ch/en/projects/pr_110_08.html |
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2008-09-08: 3R Rsearch Foundation Switzerland: 3R Info Bulletin
3R Info Bulletin Nr. 38 is available
Title: An in vitro system for detecting the health effects of inhaled particles and gases.
http://www.forschung3r.ch/en/publications/bu38.html |
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2008-07-24: Urgent vacancies
1 PhD position (immediately available)
Duration: 3x2 years
Location: Dept Toxicology, Vrije Unversiteit Brussel, Belgium (Head of Dept: Prof. Vera Rogiers)
Tasks
- assistance of practical courses of Pharmacy students (4th and 5th years students)
- research in 3R alternatives;
epigenetic modifications to functionally stabilise hepatocytes (DNA-methylation);
starting results are present required education: preferably pharmacist,
possible also: biomedical sciences, biochemistry, medicine, biology,
...team spirit, motivation, IT skills and willigness to learn Dutch are essential.
1 Post-Doc position (immediately available)
Duration: 2 years
Location: Dept Toxicology, Vrije Unversiteit Brussel, Belgium (Head of Dept: Prof. Vera Rogiers)
Tasks:
- stem cell research and molecular technology
- required education: PhD in sciences (broad range), topic preferably related
to stem cell researchor hepatologic research or molecular biology management skills,
team spirit, motivation, IT skills and willigness to learn Dutch are essential.
Contact
Prof. Vera Rogiers
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Head Dept Toxicology
Laarbeeklaan 103,
B-1090 Brussels, BE
Tel: +32 2 4774516
Fax: +32 2 4774582
E-mail: vrogiers@vub.ac.be
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2008-05-06: Nanotechnology: Towards Reducing Animal Testing
Applying understanding at the nanoscale to improving achievement of the 'three Rs' replacement, refinement and reduction, 28 and 29 May, The Royal Society, London.
http://www.nano.org.uk/conferences/alt_Animals/prog.htm |
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2008-05-05: Expert briefing on opportunities to replace the use of animals in medical research
Revision of the animal experiments directive (Directive 86/609), European Parliament, Brussels, 28th of May 08, 15 – 18h.
http://www.drhadwentrust.org/replace/ |
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2008-04-21: A new projects initiated by the 3R Research Foundation Switzerland
In vitro fish hepatocytes as a source of metabolic clearance data in alternative approaches for the reduction or replacement of in vivo bioaccumulation testing with fish.
Prof. Helmut Segner, Fish and Wildlife Medicine, University of Berne, Switzerland.
http://www.forschung3r.ch/en/projects/pr_108_07.html |
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