In the US, a new toxicity testing plan has been launched which includes the use of preditive, high- throughput cell-based assays of human origin to evaluate pertubations in key pathways of toxicity, and to conduct targeted testing against those pathways.
Presentation of the Human Toxome at the European Parliament in Brussels: at the front: Dr. Roberto Berollini, Chief Scientist of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, middle: Prof. Thomas Hartung, Director of CAAT-US und CAAT-EU, behind: Dr. Gernot Klotz, Executive Direktor of CEFIC, at the back: Dr. Philippe Martin, Manager of the Health and Consumers (SANCO) Directorate-General of the European Comission.
Image: Christiane Hohensee
Mapping the entirety of these pathways (hence the "Human Toxome Project") could be a large-scale effort. It could develop tremendous opportunities for REACh, the testing ban for cosmetics, the pesticide regulation and the endocrine disruptor screening, while reducing animal suffering.
The event was hosted by the Group of the Progressive Allicance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, who were represented by Vittorio Prodi, Member of the European Parliament.