The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has commissioned a consortium with the participation of BASF SE to scientifically investigate the reliability and relevance of new technologies as alternatives to animal testing, so-called New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and to promote their use in the future. NAMs include in-vitro models, computer methods and omics techniques (genetic analyses of the entire genome, all expressed proteins of a cell and metabolic functions).

As announced by the 3R Center Tübingen on LinkedIN, the renowned scientist for organ-on-chip research at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and NMI Reutlingen, Prof. Peter Loskill, has been appointed to the Permanent Senate Commission for Animal Experimental Research of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

The European Animal Testing Directive and the EU Chemicals Regulation (REACH) require that animal testing to assess possible toxicity to humans should only be carried out as a last resort. An association of representatives from industry and non-governmental organizations has discovered that these requirements are not being seriously implemented, resulting in countless animal experiments.

A team of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Konstanze Winklhofer from the Ruhr University Bochum has discovered that the protein NEMO, which is known amongst other things for its role in the innate immune system, has an important function in labeling protein aggregates in the brain to prevent harmful deposits such as those that occur in Parkinson's disease.