IIVS is pleased to share that the PMI In Vitro Alternatives Laboratory in Neuchâtel, Switzerland is now GIVIMP certified. Good In Vitro Method Practices (GIVIMP) is an OECD guidance document that provides a framework for quality standards specific to in vitro laboratory operations.

Managed by Anna Góralczyk, PhD, the laboratory will continue to conduct non-animal experimentation and research using standardized, reliable, and reproducible methodologies. The PMI In Vitro Alternatives Laboratory is able to provide strong evidence to other research laboratories and regulatory and validation authorities that their research and experimentation is conducted in a sound, standardized and reproducible environment.

In the January 6th issue of Toxicological Sciences, IIVS co-published on the topic of Cryopreserved Human Precision-cut Lung Slices Provide an Immune Competent Pulmonary Test System for "On-demand" Use and Long-term Cultures. This paper was written in cooperation with Drs. Andreas Stucki and Amy Clippinger from the PETA Science Consortium International and Dr. Khalid Amin from the University of Minnesota. 

The IIVS authors of the paper, Drs. Vivek Patel and Holger Behrsing will also be presenting during a workshop organized by the American Cleaning Institute entitled “New Approach Methods (NAMs) for the In Vitro Assessment of Cleaning Products for Respiratory Irritation.” This event takes place on March 2nd at the Convene Building in Arlington, VA.

During the week of January 30th, IIVS hosted several representatives from various regulatory agencies at our facility in Gaithersburg, MD. The workshop provided an overview of Non-Animal Methodologies for such endpoints as dermal and ocular irritation and skin sensitization.

These training events assist regulators in making informed decisions regarding the acceptance of alternative methods to traditional testing requirements, many of which are based on outdated animal-based assays. This workshop was sponsored by the PETA Science Consortium International and we thank them for their generous support of this event.

On February 7th and 14th, IIVS Study Director Dr. Argel Islas-Robles and Givaudan Senior Research Fellow Dr. Andreas Natsch co-presented a 2-part webinar entitled: “Derivation of a Point of Departure from In Vitro Methods for Use in Skin Sensitization Risk Assessment”, discussing the ability to predict pEC3 values of skin sensitizers using Non-Animal Methods. Approximately 600 people registered for the events. A recording of both parts can be found on our YouTube channel or by scanning the QR codes below.

In addition to our expertise with the determination of pEC3 values in Point-of-Departure assessments, IIVS offers a comprehensive skin sensitization testing package to evaluate hazard potential, including the DPRA, KeratinoSens and hCLAT assays. IIVS also provides the kinetic DPRA which is able to evaluate strong (category 1A) sensitizers as a stand-alone assay.