Researchers who want to use animal-free methods for inhalation testing have a chance to win a Vitrocell in vitro exposure system – valued at up to $100,000 – in a contest hosted by the PETA International Science Consortium Ltd.
In a press note, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) said that regulatory agencies required safety testing in order to try to understand how inhaling substances, such as drugs, pesticides, nanomaterials, or cigarette smoke, affected human health. Currently, these tests involved forcing animals to inhale test substances while confined to narrow chambers for hours at a time, in a process that could go on for months before the animals were killed.
Vitrocell systems could be used to deliver aerosolized test substances to human lung cells that were exposed to air on one side and a nutrient-rich fluid on the other, PETA said. This configuration mimicked the human lung environment and, therefore, could be used to predict human health effects more accurately than could tests on animals.
“The Consortium is happy to provide funding to researchers who are interested in better protecting humans from the potentially hazardous effects of inhaled substances without using animals,” said Dr. Amy Clippinger, associate director of the Consortium.
Meanwhile, Tobias Krebs, MD of Vitrocell Systems said, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to install a state-of-the-art in vitro exposure system and deliver research solutions to the winning lab”.
Proposals for this award must be submitted by March 30, 2017. The winner will be chosen based on the proposal’s scientific merit and its capacity to replace animal testing. More information is at: PISCLTD.org.uk or www.PISCLTD.org.uk/vitrocell-prize.
PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. says that it works to accelerate the development, validation, and global implementation of alternatives to animal testing. It was established in 2012 to co-ordinate the scientific and regulatory expertise of its members – PETA U.K., PETA U.S., PETA France, PETA Germany, PETA India, PETA Netherlands, PETA Asia, and PETA Australia.