title: Management of an integrated project (Sens-it-iv) to develop in vitro tests to assess sensitisation.
abstract: Sens-it-iv is an integrated project, funded by European Commission Framework Programme 6, the overall objective of which is to develop in vitro tests and test strategies to be used by the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries to assess the risk for potential contact and respiratory sensitisers. Such tests, once formally validated and accepted, will permit the evaluation of the sensitising potential of existing and new chemical entities and the products of the European industries for classification and labelling, as required by the new EU REACH legislation on chemicals, or for the purpose of risk assessment as required by the 7th Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive. Sens-it-iv involves 28 partners, representing industries, universities and regulatory bodies, including various institutes in the EU Member States and different competencies, all with the common aim of achieving a final deliverable - increasing the safety of consumer products, whilst reducing animal experimentation. This paper provides an overview of the structure of the project and a detailed description of the organisation of its management.
authors.affiliation: ECVAM, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy.
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rovida
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basketter
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casati
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: Helma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kimber
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manou
authors.forename: Hans Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Weltzien
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roggen
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000145:classification* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D005062:European Union; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007391:International Cooperation; D016730:Program Development; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000145:classification* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D003358:Cosmetics; D015262:Xenobiotics