Atla-Alternatives To Laboratory Animals最新文献

Increasing the use of microphysiological systems (MPS) in Three Rs and regulatory applications is a nuanced but important goal, which would also help increase their scientific impact. There are three distinct and important stakeholder groups that each play a unique role in expediting the use of MPS for regulatory purpose - namely, commercial MPS developers, end-users and regulators. Additionally, non-profit organisations, such as the 3Rs Collaborative (3RsC), can help coordinate these efforts. This paper introduces the MPS Initiative, as organised by the 3RsC, and clarifies the potential for MPS to benefit all Three Rs. Key differences in the use of MPS-derived data for regulatory evidence of efficacy versus safety, and for various other contexts of use, are discussed. Finally, the results are presented from a survey of primarily commercial MPS developers, that collected their views on the realistic responsibilities of each stakeholder group. The results also highlight their key perspectives on the use of MPS, in the context of Three Rs and regulatory applications.

The first ONTOX Hackathon of the EU Horizon 2020-funded ONTOX project was held on 21-23 April 2024 in Utrecht, The Netherlands (https://ontox-project.eu/hackathon/). This participatory event aimed to collectively advance innovation for human safety through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and hence significantly reduce reliance on animal-based testing. Expert scientists, industry leaders, young investigators, members of animal welfare organisations and academics alike, joined the hackathon. Eight teams were stimulated to find innovative solutions for challenging themes, that were selected based on previous discussions between stakeholders, namely: How to drive the use of AI in chemical risk assessment?; To predict or protect?; How can we secure human health and environmental protection at the same time?; and How can we facilitate the transition from animal tests to full implementation of human-relevant methods? The hackathon ended with a pitching contest, where the teams presented their solutions to a jury. The most promising solutions will be presented to regulatory authorities, industry, academia and non-governmental organisations at the next ONTOX Stakeholder Network meeting and taken up by the ONTOX project in order to tackle the above-mentioned challenges further. This report comprises two parts: The first part highlights some of the lessons learnt during the planning and execution of the hackathon; the second part presents the outcome of the ONTOX Hackathon, which resulted in several innovative and promising solutions based on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and outlines ONTOX's intended way forward.

Currently for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), there are no alternatives to bioaccumulation testing in fish as prescribed by OECD TG 305. New approaches are being sought, in order to reduce the numbers of animals used and address the ethical concerns associated with the use of vertebrates in such testing. This study aimed to demonstrate the value of an alternative method - the in chemico digestibility assay - as a tool to assess the bioaccumulation potential of ENMs. Titanium dioxide ENMs, or their equivalent bulk form, were incorporated onto a commercial fish diet and the fish digestion process was simulated in vitro at pH 2 (simulated stomach phase) and pH 7.8 (simulated intestinal phase). Only the 1000 mg/kg dry weight feed treatment showed measurable Ti release in the stomach phase, with the results being similar for the TiO₂ ENM and the bulk form. More Ti from TiO₂ was released from the feed during the intestinal phase of digestion compared to the stomach phase, but there were no statistically significant differences between either the ENM or bulk form. There was higher incidental Ti release from untreated control feed in the intestinal phase compared to the stomach phase. On a percentage basis, the stomach generally showed a statistically significant digestibility of around 3% of the total Ti in the feed, compared to around 7% in the intestine. The in chemico digestibility assay shows potential for use in the determination of the bioaccessible fraction of ENMs, and could be a useful screening tool to identify ENMs of concern for bioaccumulation.

The data on the number of animals used for experimental purposes, with a particular focus on regulatory toxicity studies, in Turkey and EU member states plus Norway (EU+), were compared for the period 2015 to 2020 (UK data after Brexit for 2020 were included too). The total number of listed vertebrates used for regulatory toxicity testing in the full 6-year reporting period in Turkey was 3.6% of that reported for the EU+. However, these numbers showed an increasing trend over the reporting period in Turkey, while the trend decreased in the EU+. In the top three most-used species for regulatory toxicology purposes in Turkey, 41% were fish (68,758 animals), followed by rats (29%; 49,975 animals), and then mice (20%; 33,292 animals). Turkey used low numbers of cats and dogs, while the corresponding number for the EU+ was more than 70-fold higher. Non-human primates were not used at all in Turkey, whereas about 34,000 were used in EU+ laboratories. The majority of toxicity tests (57%) performed in Turkey were categorised as 'Other' toxicity tests, and 27% were acute and sub-acute toxicity tests. Successful replacement alternatives (e.g. in vitro and in silico approaches) are already used in a wide range of research areas. However, although this new research and testing paradigm is underpinned by scientific evidence, the legislation and pace of acceptance of these new techniques in Turkey is considerably lagging behind other countries.

The acquisition of skills to perform an ovariohysterectomy (OVH) is crucial for veterinary medicine students. It has been demonstrated that the most effective way to develop these skills is through repetitive training on simulators. Unfortunately, commercial simulators are expensive, limiting their use and highlighting the need for the development of more cost-effective alternatives. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a low-cost, easily constructed textile-based simulator for the canine ovaries and uterus in training veterinary students on the OVH technique. The impact of tutor guidance on student learning was also assessed. Participants were divided into two groups: simulator and tutor guidance (SG) and simulator only (SO). Each student performed 20 repetitions of the three-clamp OVH technique, and the number of errors and execution time were quantified. The SG group reached the learning curve plateau in terms of minimum errors on the 7th repetition and attained the fastest time on the 6th repetition. The SO group reached the learning curve plateau in terms of minimum errors and attained the fastest time both on the 15th repetition. From individuals in the SG group, there were no requests for tutor guidance from the 11th attempt. This low-cost simulator is ideal for training veterinary students in the early stages of surgical learning, as it effectively facilitates learning the OVH procedure without the use of live animals.

Publication is essential to share new ideas, knowledge, or recent findings with those who have an interest in a particular area. Selecting the most appropriate format and timing for dissemination is critical to ensuring the long-term impact of research. However, many researchers, particularly those in the early stages of their career, are unaware of how the publication process works and the different options available for promoting research to maximum effect. Understanding how to maximise impact is particularly important for research using animal models or alternative methods, to make the best use of any animal data generated and reduce animal testing in future. Herein, different publishing models are explained, including anonymised peer review, open review and data sharing initiatives. An overview is given of key resources available to assist authors, reviewers and editors in the process of writing, presenting, reviewing and publishing research. New challenges and opportunities in publishing are discussed, including the potential influence of Artificial Intelligence. A list of 'ten top tips' in publishing for early career researchers is presented, providing advice and recommendations for ensuring a successful and impactful publication record.