Apr 2 2010
A special event of the University of the West of England (UWE) will focus on instrumentation and sensors for cell toxicity monitoring.
During the event scientists who have expertise in alternative testing and cell technologies will listen and share knowledge on a range of related subjects with expert speakers. This event is organized by the Knowledge Exchange Network and the UWE and will take place on 14 April 2010.
This workshop aims to widen the understanding of the requirement for alternative testing technology, review various types of sensor technology utilized for monitoring cells, enable cross-disciplinary working, and evaluate cell maintenance technology.
This workshop will feature an educative topic that relates to animal replacement testing.
Emily McIvor, a lobbyist for supporting the creation of alternative testing techniques at the EU Parliament and a member of the Humane Society International, will be among the speakers at the event.
Professor Richard Luxton, the Institute for Bio Sensing Research’s Director, revealed that the workshop will study the applications and requirements of instrumentation and sensors to monitor the cell toxicity. He added that a major application will be the identification of the toxic effects due to potential drug compounds present in cell cultural systems that are utilized to speed up drug discovery. He explained that sensors that monitor cell toxicity are also critical tools to develop animal replacement technologies using the replacement, refinement and reduction (3R’s) framework. He clarified that this cell toxicity alternative testing is emerging as a new concept to test industrial chemicals and new cosmetics and is covered by the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) legislation.