Current Status and Future Developments of Databases on Alternative Methods

This is the report of the twenty-fifth of a series of workshops organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). ECVAM’s main goal, as defined in 1993 by its Scientific Advisory Committee, is to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods which are of importance to the biosciences and which reduce, refine or replace the use of laboratory animals. One of the first priorities set by ECVAM was the implementation of procedures which would enable it to become well-informed about the state-of-the-art of non-animal test development and validation, and the potential for the possible incorporation of alternative tests into regulatory procedures. It was decided that this would be best achieved by the organisation of ECVAM workshops on specific topics, at which small groups of invited experts would review the current status of various types of in vitro tests and their potential uses, and make recommendations about the best ways forward (1). The workshop on the Current Status and Future Developments of Databases on Alternative Methods was held in Neubiberg, Germany, on 12–15 September 1996, under the co-chairmanship of Margot van der Kamp (Netherlands Centre Alternatives to Animal Use, Utrecht, The Netherlands) and Annett Janusch (ECVAM, Ispra, Italy). It was organised by Ms van der Kamp and Roman Kolar (Akademie für Tierschutz, Neubiberg, Germany). This ECVAM workshop was the first official meeting of experts who have been involved in the creation and maintenance of databases which contribute to the Three Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement) of Russell & Burch (2). The key objecCurrent Status and Future Developments of Databases on Alternative Methods