Here - Stiftung Forschung 3R

Sens-it-iv
Novel Testing Strategies for In Vitro Assessment
of Allergens
Contract number: LSHB-CT-2005-018681
Project type: Integrated Project
EC contribution: € 10,999,700
Starting date: 1 October 2005
Duration:
66 months
Website: sens-it-iv.eu
Background
With some forms of allergy on the increase, massive resources are invested worldwide to
investigate which compounds are the culprits and why otherwise harmless compounds
elicit adverse immune responses. In Europe, the European Commission has been an
important investor in research into allergies through Framework Programmes.
To date the identification and evaluation of unknown sensitisers completely relies on
animal testing as no validated alternative exists. However, the additional testing of
chemicals for allergenicity required by the new EU legislation on chemicals (REACH) is
expected to consume millions of animals per year. Conversely, several EU legislations call
for significant reductions or even a complete ban on animal testing (i.e., for cosmetics
and cosmetic ingredients since March 2009).
Therefore, 31 groups from academia and industry, as well as special interest organisations,
have joined within the frame of the Sens-it-iv consortium to develop non-animal tests
and testing strategies to assess allergenic potential. This is seen in relation with the use
of safe ingredients by the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
Objectives
A. Scientific
1. Use of functional genomics, proteomics, and immunohistology before and after
chemical challenge of tissue slices to address ex vivo phenotypic characteristic
changes of human epithelial cells (EC), antigen presenting dendritic cells (DC), and
effector T-cells.
PROGRESS REPORTS FROM EU-FUNDED PROJECTS
Progress Report 2011 & AXLR8-2 Workshop Report
157