IC-3Rs News

Vera Rogiers, Emeritus Professor of Toxicology and Chair of the Innovation Centre – 3Rs at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, explains the creation and actions of the Centre to promote the implementation of the 3Rs in scientific research by using new technology and new approach methodologies (NAMs). She describes the peculiar situation of Belgium, a federal state, when it comes to promoting NAMs and also discusses the upcoming revision of the REACH Regulation and what can be expected from the EU Green Deal.

If scientists could stop animal testing, they would do it immediately. But is it feasible? How far is science today?

One alternative to the use of rabbits for pyrogen test is the blood of horseshoe crab or Limulus, a 500-million-year-old invertebrate which is released in the ocean after blood collection.​ An estimated 10% of horseshoe crabs unfortunately die when bled and this alternative was not enough to impact the number of rabbits used in pyrogen tests.​  (Source: ”Pyrogen Testing Revisited on Occasion of  the 25th Anniversary of the Whole Blood Monocyte” by Thomas Hartung, in Altex January 2021​.

The American Society for Cellular and Computational Toxicology (ASCCT) recently organized its 10th annual meeting themed “Practical applications of new tools in toxicology” from the 12th to the 14th of October.
During the meeting, Anouck Thienpont from Sciensano and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel received the Ray Tice Tox21 Student Award for her presentation ‘Development of a novel #genotoxicity prediction model based on #biomarker genes in human HepaRGTM cells’. This prediction model allows to predict the genotoxic potential of chemicals based on the changes in the expression of 84 carefully selected genes. The work is part of a joint PhD project between VUB and Sciensano, funded by the FWO and the Chair Mireille Aerens. Congratulations Anouck!

A UK body that provides £75m (€88m) a year for research into biotechnology and biological sciences has changed its approach to investment.