Using human hepatocytes, scientists are going to investigate the toxicology of the industrial chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for the next two years. Since it is questionable whether previous results from animal experiments with the chemical are transferable directly to humans, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) molecular mechanisms will examine in the liver cells, which may the German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment (BfR) will study the moilecular mechanism in the liver cells which maybe induce toxic effects in these cells.

The bill requires amongst others, alternatives to animal tests be considered and used, and places restrictions on animal testing, which are stronger than current law, that will over time facilitate the development and adoption of human-relevant, non-animal methods.

During the this Years´ congress located in Linz, the European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT) offers the “EUSAAT 2016 Practical Training Course on Alternative Methods”, which will be focusing on "Application of commercially available human tissue models".
 

The University of Ulm will receive an interdisciplinary graduate program in order to explorate the lungs. The project is called PULMOSENS ("micro and nanoscale sensors for the lungs"). Researchers from the fields of engineering, natural and life sciences will cooperate closely together here and will do basic research on biomedical questions with new, innovative sensor systems. They also want to deliver new therapeutic approaches and - before all - they will train young scientists.