Nordic symposium on toxicology and pharmacology without animal experiments-Will it be possible in the next 10 years?

Toxicological and pharmacological information from human cells and tissues provides knowledge readily applicable to human safety assessment and to the efficacy assessment of pharmaceuticals. The 3R principle in animal studies includes the use of human material in the R of Replacement. The Reduction and Refinement Rs are related to animal use. Knowledge of the 3Rs and successful 3R methods are a prerequisite for the Reduction of animal experiments in the future. More collaboration among researchers using experimental animals and those working in vitro is necessary with mutual respect. The OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals have included the animal-free part of the 3Rs in guidances for the development and reporting of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), which is to be part of the Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA). The 3R centres established to help fulfil the Directive 2010/63/EU play an important role to promote the 3Rs and in the development of animal-free toxicology. Research centres in each Nordic country are founded upon solid research activities in cell and organ toxicity, including major EU programmes to promote 3Rs and implementation of good practices and methods broadly in all stakeholders of industry, regulators and academia. In the light of this, the Nordic Symposium on Toxicology and Pharmacology without Animal Experiments addressed more adopted/modified test guidelines or new test guidelines for new end-points, or hazard challenges, new in vitro 3D models, speeding up transfer of knowledge from research to regulation to understand AOP and towards IATA.