The application of nanotechnology is currently revolutionizing medicine and this two-day conference, the first of its kind in Europe, will examine the role nanotechnology could also play in improving or refining the development of alternatives to animal testing whilst maintaining safety.

Animal testing is costly and there is a great deal of research on finding viable and effective alternatives (new methods that refine existing tests by minimizing animal distress, reducing animal usage, or replacing whole animal tests). Despite large reductions in animal testing since the early 1980s due to improved in vitro methods, levels remain high (over 3 million procedures in 2006) and results cannot always be extrapolated to humans.

Themes will include:
a review of some of the most promising human cell-based in vitro models

novel lab-on-a-chip and bioreactor systems for screening, toxicology and targeting studies

surface modification at the nanoscale to improve biosensors and in vitro test systems

potential new strategies for applying nanotechnology to alternatives

the role of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM)

The conference will be of particular interest to those involved in:

pharmaceutical, medical device and cosmetic development and testing

environmental and food testing

regulation

organizations interested in the development of animal alternatives.