Hands-On Training, Hands Off Animals! PETA Scientists Co-Organise Training on Non-Animal Toxicity Testing
This month, PETA scientists partnered with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) to host hands-on training courses with the National Institute of Biologicals in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and Jai Research Foundation in Vapi, Gujarat. This marked the first time these courses were open to the scientific community in India.
Every year, millions of animals worldwide are used in toxicity tests. Widespread adoption and familiarity with scientifically-sound non-animal methods, such as those taught in these trainings, can spare animals from testing and more reliably provide data relevant to human biology.
Last year, PETA scientists co-organised a groundbreaking non-animal toxicology training course for 80 participants, helping to usher in a new era of animal-free testing in India. Now, this effort has expanded and reached an important milestone.
With more than 100 attendees, including participants from the Indian government, the training sessions provided practical experience with non-animal test methods. Trainees gained hands-on experience with human-relevant non-animal methods, including those that replace the use of rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and other animals in assessing skin irritation, eye irritation, skin sensitisation, phototoxicity, and respiratory toxicity.
Demonstrating the truly collaborative nature of the trainings, two leading developers of advanced in vitro technologies, MatTek and EPISKIN, donated tissue models, ensuring that participants gained direct experience with state-of-the-art in vitro methods. Scientists from Corteva provided scientific input on the program, and Colgate-Palmolive helped sponsor travel for some participants to attend the training.
When it comes to testing chemicals, India is a juggernaut. Already one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of pesticides, India is poised to become an international leader in state-of-the-art non-animal toxicity testing. Trainings like these help scientists gain confidence in using non-animal test methods, increasing the likelihood that companies will use the methods and regulators will accept them.
A recently published paper co-authored by a PETA India scientist outlines how India can speed the adoption of non-animal methods for pesticide testing. It highlights how tests on animals are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and unreliable predictors of human responses. The paper identifies practical opportunities to advance the regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods, such as access to clear guidance on accepted non-animal methods, opportunities for regulator-industry dialogue, and use of internationally accepted non-animal methods. To build on this momentum, PETA India scientists have been engaging with regulators and submitting proposals to facilitate the uptake of animal-free approaches for pesticide safety assessment.
How You Can Help Replace Even More Tests On Animals
Over the past decade, reliable, human-relevant non-animal methods have revolutionised the field of toxicity testing. But there’s still work to do. Take action by joining PETA India in advocating for state-of-the-art science that benefits all living beings.
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