March 2017
Upcoming Events

Visit the IIVS booth at these upcoming events.

March 12-16
Baltimore, MD
Visit our 
booth #1612!

April 4-6
London, UK 

May 2-3
New York, NY

Aug. 20-24, 2017
Seattle, WA
In the News







Our Contributors

Altria
Alternative Research & Development Foundation
Avon
BAT
Caudalie
Colgate-Palmolive
The Dial Corporation, A Henkel Company
Estee Lauder Companies
Johnson & Johnson
Kimberly-Clark Corporation

L Brands Inc.

M.A.C. Cosmetics

Mary Kay Inc.

PETA
PMI
The Procter & Gamble Company
S.C. Johnson & Son
Unilever
IIVS at SOT 2017: Booth #1612

IIVS Ancillary Meetings
Sheraton Inner Harbor, Harborview Ballroom

Mon., March 13,  5-6:30 pm

IIVS Updates and Networking:  Opportunities for Human In Vitro Respiratory Models in Regulatory Toxicology

  • Respiratory Toxicology at IIVS: Recent activities and expansion of capabilities
  • Technical Workshop: Goblet cell hyperplasia, mucous production, and ciliary beat frequency assays
  • Expert Panel: Incorporating 21st century toxicology into regulatory decision making

Wed., March 15, 4:45-6:45 pm

IIVS Spotlight: Standards and Transparency in Toxicology Testing - Technology Review and Stakeholder Input

  • Opportunities for protocol and data sharing in in vitro testing
  • Platform to support evidence-based analysis for novel tobacco and alternative products

Posters

Wed., March 15, 1:15-4:30 pm

Addressing the Assignment of US EPA Hazard Categories of Dermal Safety by a Revised Prediction Model of the Validated In Vitro Skin Irritation Test  (OECD TG 439)
(Abstract 2745/Poster P113 )

Precision Digital Dispensing of Patterned Picoliter Quantities of Test Material onto Apical Surfaces of Human 3D-Reconstructed Airway Tissues
(Abstract 2780/Poster P148)


Thurs., March 16, 8:30-11:45 am

Using In Vitro Assays, the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), Keratinosens (KS), and Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) to Assess Skin Sensitization Potential of Electronic Cigarette Liquids (Abstract 3374/Poster P345)

Visit the IIVS Booth #1612 to speak with our team. 

IIVS Turns 20: 1997-2017

This year marks IIVS' 20th anniversary! We are excited to commemorate this milestone with some key activities, including a new website and the opening of our respiratory toxicology laboratory. We will also be hosting a special celebratory event on Monday, June 12, featuring presentations from IIVS scientists and special guests, as well as laboratory demonstrations, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and reception.  

Founded in 1997, IIVS is unique in its position as a high quality testing laboratory that also offers technical and educational resources to increase the use and acceptance of non-animal methods.

"Twenty years ago we envisioned an Institute based on science and providing industry with ethical and scientifically credible safety testing solutions," said IIVS CEO, Rodger Curren. "I feel we have reached this goal and look forward to 20 more years of innovation and success."  
 
Join Us in Celebrating 20 Years


 
Join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary and the opening of our new respiratory toxicology laboratory.

Schedule of Activities 

  • Presentations by IIVS Scientists
  • Special Lectures
    • A Strategy for Implementing the Vision for Toxicity Testing in
      the 21st Century 

      William Casey, NICEATM
    • EPA-OPP's Initiative to Modernize the Acute "6-Pack"
      Anna Lowit, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs
    • Minimizing Animal Testing under the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act 
      Kristie Sullivan, PCRM
  • Laboratory demonstrations 
  • Ribbon cutting ceremony and reception
Registration is complimentary, but required. Register online now.   Questions?  Contact Laura Henning at lhenning@iivs.org.

IIVS to Present at NAS
IIVS Principal Scientist for Respiratory Toxicology, Dr. Holger Behrsing, was invited to present at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's (NAS) workshop on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), e-cigarettes. 

The workshop was held by a recently formed NAS committee convened by the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. The committee has been asked to evaluate the available evidence of the health effects related to the use of ENDS and to identify future federally funded research needs. Dr. Behrsing presented on the p ragmatic use of 3D lung models to evaluate exposure-induced adverse effects that may contribute to pulmonary disease.

A workshop video and PDF presentations are available on the NAS website.

Tinashe Ruwona Joins IIVS 
We are pleased to announce the addition of Tinashe Ruwona to our team as a Toxicologist II/Study Director.

Dr. Ruwona joins IIVS to lead our in vitro skin sensitization program. With a background in immunology and toxicology, Dr. Ruwona is uniquely qualified to assist our clients in determining the best assays to meet their product development or safety testing needs. Dr. Ruwona can also assist clients in utilizing the appropriate assays for registration for REACH per ECHA's latest guidance. 

New IIVS Website - www.iivs.org
We have a new website! Designed to provide an enhanced user experience with improved navigation and functionality throughout, visitors will find quick and easy access to information they need.  

Features of the new site include: 
  • Streamlined design and navigation
  • The ability to browse information by assay and industry types.
  • Enhanced search function, facilitating faster location of multiple sources of information about a specific subject or keyword
  • Easier access to our resources - posters, presentations, publications, webinars, videos and more to further your knowledge about in vitro test methods and our services
  • New "Why Choose IIVS" section with information about the key benefits of working with IIVS
  • Mobile ready version
Start exploring and let us know what you think!

New Respiratory Toxicology Lab to Open this Spring
We are excited to announce that our new respiratory laboratory will officially open in March 2017.  The addition of the new laboratory space will allow exposure of in vitro models to particulates, aerosols, smoke, or gases that may be found in our environment or in new materials such as electronic nicotine delivery systems. 

The state-of-the art exposure laboratory will provide ISO conditions through precise environmental controls. The new laboratory will expand our current output capacity while also providing IIVS with new inhalation-like exposure capabilities to augment our portfolio of non-animal methods.

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ARDF Accepting Proposals for 2017 Grant Program - Deadline 5/1/17
The Alternatives Research & Development Foundation (ARDF) is currently soliciting research proposals for its 2017 Alternatives Research Grant Program.  For over 20 years, this innovative program has created opportunities for scientists who have interest and expertise in alternatives research.

Up to $40,000 is available to fund individual projects. The application deadline is May 1, 2017.


Allen to Receive SOT Enhancement of Animal Welfare Award
David Allen, Integrated Laboratory Systems, has been selected to receive the Society of Toxicology (SOT) 2017 Enhancement of Animal Welfare Award.  The award is presented annually to an SOT member to recognize contributions made towards the development and application of methods that replace, refine, or reduce the use of experimental animals. 

Allen is principal investigator on the NICEATM support contract, past president of SOT's In Vitro and Alternative Methods specialty section, and current president of the American Society for Cellular and Computational Toxicology.

Allen will receive the award at the annual SOT meeting in March 2017 in Baltimore, MD.


Read the Latest Publications of Interest
Birlea SA, Costin GE, Roop DR, Norris DA. " Trends in regenerative medicine: repigmentation in vitiligo through melanocyte stem cell mobilizationM ed Res Rev. 2016 Dec 28 

Walters RM, Gandolfi L, Mack MC, Fevola M, Martin K, Hamilton MT, Hilberer A, Barnes N, Wilt N, Nash JR, Raabe HA, Costin GE. " In Vitro Assessment of Skin irritation potential of surfactant-based formulations using a 3-D skin reconstructed tissue model and cytokine response" Altern Lab Anim. 2016; 44(6): 523-532.  (Available to full and paid subscribers to ALTA).

Behrsing HP, Huang S, Constant S. " The Use of Human 3D Reconstructed Airway Cultures for Tobacco Product Evaluation: Precision Low-Volume Exposures at the Apical Site" Applied In Vitro Toxicology, Volume 3, Number 1, 2017



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