Panel recognizes federal efforts to advance nonanimal testing methods

Helena Hogberg, Ph.D. presenting at SACATM — In her presentation, NICEATM Acting Director Helena Hogberg, Ph.D., described how ICCVAM and NICEATM have acted on suggestions from previous SACATM meetings. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw / NIEHS)

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods (SACATM) encouraged federal agencies to continue and broaden efforts to advance replacement of animal use for chemical safety testing during a Sept. 11-12 meeting.

In a review of activities over the past year, the committee advised member agencies of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) on strategies to build confidence in regulatory use of nonanimal testing methods. They noted the importance of collaborations, such as those announced earlier this year between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Referring to the partnership, NIEHS Director of Strategic Partnerships Warren Casey, Ph.D., noted, “This is really going to pave the way for much more direct communication and sharing of information between these two agencies.”

SACATM includes experts from academia, industry, and animal welfare organizations. The committee meets annually to advise the NIEHS director, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), and ICCVAM on ICCVAM activities. ICCVAM is a federal government committee administered by NICEATM.

Strategies to build confidence

A major focus of the meeting was how agencies should build confidence in the appropriateness of a test method for an intended application. This process is referred to in some contexts as validation and in others as qualification.

Speakers described efforts at the national and international levels to provide resources to support validation. Geetha Senthil, Ph.D., deputy director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, presented an overview of the newly established ICCVAM Common Data Elements Workgroup. The workgroup will coordinate with NIH to develop standards for data collection from validation studies that consider U.S. regulatory agency needs.

Marty, Garcia-Reyero, Casey and Hogberg — While this year’s SACATM meeting was held primarily online, Casey and Hogberg, on right, were joined by SACATM Chair Sue Marty Ph.D., The Dow Chemical Company, far left, and ICCVAM Co-Chair Natalia Vinas Garcia-Reyero, Ph.D., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw / NIEHS)

Public commenter Sue Leary, president of the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation, felt that this workgroup will support efficiency in methods validation.

“It represents the essence of ICCVAM’s intent and mission, and shows the importance and relevance of ICCVAM today,” she said.

Online tools support data accessibility and use

One session focused on online tools that enable users to explore and use toxicology data. In that session, NICEATM scientist Emily Reinke, Ph.D., of Inotiv (a contractor supporting NICEATM), announced the availability of HPPT App, a tool that uses data from human testing to predict whether a chemical might cause an allergic skin reaction. HPPT App, launched in early September, is the newest of several NICEATM tools available to predict skin sensitization potential.

Warren Casey, Ph.D. presenting at SACATM — Casey is executive director of ICCVAM. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw / NIEHS)

SACATM member Kambez Benam, D.Phil., of the University of Pittsburgh, recognized the value of the tools described in the session, but emphasized the importance of raising broad awareness of their availability.

“Rather than just targeting chemical companies, you need to do a broader outreach, like to a variety of people in academic settings,” he said.

Slides, meeting minutes, and other materials from the SACATM meeting will be available on the NTP website.

(Catherine Sprankle is a communications specialist for Inotiv, the contractor supporting NICEATM.)