Much of the work carried out by DTT is in support of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency partnership of the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and NIEHS.
NICEATM is an office within NTP that evaluates alternatives to animal use for chemical safety testing of chemicals. Alternative test methods:
- Replace traditional animal models with non-animal systems such as computational models or biochemical or cell-based systems, or replaces one animal species with a less highly developed one (for example, replacing a mouse with a worm)
- Reduce the number of animals used to the minimum number required to obtain scientifically valid data
- Refine procedures to lessen or eliminate animal pain and distress, or improve animal well-being
NICEATM activities include:
- Supporting the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM), a committee representing 16 U.S. federal regulatory and research agencies that generate or use toxicity testing data
- Providing bioinformatics and computational toxicology support to NIEHS and NTP projects, especially those related to Tox21
- Conducting and publishing analyses and evaluations of data from new testing approaches
- Organizing workshops and symposia on relevant topics of interest
- Providing information to test method developers, regulators, and the regulated community through its website and other communications
NICEATM and ICCVAM work together to:
- Evaluate new, revised, and alternative test methods with regulatory applicability, and provide recommendations on their use to federal agencies
- Promote the scientific validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods
- Foster national and international harmonization of alternative methods
ICCVAM welcomes submissions of alternative safety testing methods for validation studies or evaluations. Information on preparing submissions is available on the NTP website.
ICCVAM is coordinating the development of a strategic roadmap for incorporating new approaches into safety testing of chemicals and medical products in the United States.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods provides external advice on ICCVAM and NICEATM activities.
Director
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Nicole C. Kleinstreuer, Ph.D.
Director, NICEATM -
Tel 984-287-3150
[email protected] -
530 DAVIS DR (RTP)530 Davis Drive (Keystone Bldg)Durham, NC 27713
Environmental Factor Articles
- Hogberg Brings Developmental Neurotoxicity Expertise to NICEATM (March 2022)
- Impact of Variability in Animal Test Data Discussed by Kleinstreuer (January 2022)
- New Chemical Testing Approach Will Help to Replace Animal Use (August 2021)
- Animal Replacement Accomplishments Draw Broad Interest (July 2021)
- New Predictive Model May Speed Toxicity Screens, Reduce Animal Use (May 2021)
- Department of Veterans Affairs Joins Effort to Reduce Animal Testing (December 2020)
- Nonanimal Safety Testing Requires Data Quality, Measures of Success (October 2020)
- Animal Testing Alternatives Advanced by 16 Government Agencies (September 2020)