Academic Training to Promote the Implementation of Alternative Methods and the Three Rs in the Field of Toxicology

ECVAM's initiatives in validation have received significant support from the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC), especially through the provision of reference chemical data banks, which contain peer-reviewed, high-quality in vivo data on commercially available chemical substances. Chemicals have been selected from these ECETOC data banks for validation studies on alternative methods for skin corrosion and irritation and for eye irritation and, in addition, an ECETOC task force peer-reviewed the selection and classification, on the basis of in vivo data, of chemicals used in the validation of three alternative methods for developmental toxicity. More recently, ECVAM and ECETOC have been pursuing parallel initiatives on the proposed new EU chemicals policy, with the common goals of ensuring that industry and European Commission resources are used to investigate only those chemicals that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment, and that the Policy requires that any testing that is necessary follows the Three Rs principles of reduction, refinement and replacement.

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The Future of ECVAM: A Personal Perspective

Alternatives to Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1177/026119290203002s40 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 30 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. 239-241

Author(s):

Michael Balls

Keyword(s):

Alternative Methods ◽

Personal Perspective ◽

Practical Application ◽

Validation Process ◽

The Future ◽

Chemicals Policy ◽

The Three Rs ◽

Made In

Progress made in the practical application of the validation process is summarised, and some of the remaining problems are considered. Highlights of the first ten years of ECVAM are reviewed, and ECVAM's activities as a route of communication on the Three Rs are discussed. Finally, some suggestions are made for maintaining ECVAM's momentum in the future, especially in relation to the challenge and opportunity for alternative methods afforded by the new EU Chemicals Policy.

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Alternatives in Canada

Alternatives to Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1177/026119299502300612 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 824-826

Author(s):

Gilly Griffin

Keyword(s):

Alternative Methods ◽

Ethical Review ◽

Care Institution ◽

Canadian Council ◽

Animal Care ◽

The Three Rs

In Canada, promotion of the Three Rs concept of alternatives occurs largely through the Canadian Council on Animal Care. Institution-based animal care committees are required to conduct an ethical review of all protocols which use animals in research, teaching or testing. Investigators are expected to use animals only when their best efforts to find an alternative have failed. Those using animals are required to employ the most humane methods on the smallest number of animals possible. The Joseph F. Morgan Research Foundation was established to promote the development and use of alternative methods in Canada. The focus of the Foundation has been on the use of alternative methods for testing purposes. However, the Foundation also encourages the acceptance of each of the Three Rs throughout Canadian science. The Foundation is therefore in the process of developing a refinement alternatives programme.

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Experimental biomedical research: achievements and future aims

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14926 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 206

Author(s):

I. DONTA (Ι. ΔΟΝΤΑ)

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Biomedical Research ◽

Surgical Techniques ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

Animal Use ◽

Amount Of Knowledge ◽

The Three Rs

An invaluable amount of knowledge and enormous progress in the advancement of human health, longevity and quality of life has been achieved by biomedical research throughout the ages. Most of the achievements were accomplished by research on animals and more recently, on laboratory animals. Progress in the production of drugs, vaccines, sera, antibiotics, surgical techniques and materials, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and many more, was reached by their safety and efficacy testing on laboratory animals, prior to their application on humans. The achievements resulting from this research are applied both in humans and in animals. Experimental biomedical research is currently conducted in animal models of human diseases, invertebrates and with alternative methods to the use of animals. Its future aims are to solve existing and emerging health threats and to increase gene therapy, with the concomitant application of the three Rs principles of animal use - replacement, reduction and refinement.

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