title: 13th meeting of the Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals (SGOMSEC): alternative testing methodologies and conceptual issues.
abstract: Substantial world-wide resources are being committed to develop improved toxicological testing methods that will contribute to better protection of human health and the environment. The development of new methods is intrinsically driven by new knowledge emanating from fundamental research in toxicology, carcinogenesis, molecular biology, biochemistry, computer sciences, and a host of other disciplines. Critical evaluations and strong scientific consensus are essential to facilitate adoption of alternative methods for use in the safety assessment of drugs, chemicals, and other environmental factors. Recommendations to hasten the development of new alternative methods included increasing emphasis on the development of mechanism-based methods, increasing fundamental toxicological research, increasing training on the use of alternative methods, integrating accepted alternative methods into toxicity assessment, internationally harmonizating chemical toxicity classification schemes, and increasing international cooperation to develop, validate, and gain acceptance of alternative methods.
authors.affiliation: RITOX, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. b.blaauboer@ritox.dgk.ruu.nl
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Blaauboer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balls
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coecke
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rall
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schwetz
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Younes
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007391:International Cooperation; D008954:Models, Biological; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants