NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM)
NICEATM administers and provides scientific and operational support for the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM).
NICEATM also conducts independent validation studies on new, revised, and alternative safety testing methods, and coordinates international validation studies with other national centers and international organizations.
Alternative test methods:
- Reduce the number of animals used to the minimum number required to obtain scientifically valid data.
- Refine procedures to lessen or eliminate animal pain and distress, or improve animal well-being.
- Replace animals with non-animal systems or one animal species with a less highly developed one (for example, replacing a mouse with a fish).
ICCVAM is an interagency committee of the U.S. Government, with members representing 15 U.S. Federal regulatory and research agencies that require, generate, or disseminate information for determining the safety or potential adverse health effects of chemicals and products to which workers or consumers may be exposed.
The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3) established ICCVAM as a permanent interagency committee under NICEATM.
NICEATM and ICCVAM work together to:
- Evaluate the scientific validity of new, revised, and alternative safety testing methods with regulatory applicability, and provide ICCVAM test method recommendations to Federal agencies for acceptance revisions.
- Promote the scientific validation and regulatory acceptance of safety testing methods that more accurately assess the safety and health hazards of chemicals and products and that reduce, refine (decrease or eliminate pain and distress), or replace animal use.
- Foster national and international harmonization of new, revised, and alternative test methods.
NICEATM and ICCVAM welcome nominations and submissions of alternative safety testing methods for validation studies and/or technical evaluations. Information on how individuals or organizations can submit nominations is available on the NICEATM-ICCVAM website .
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods (SACATM) provides external advice on ICCVAM and NICEATM activities.
Environmental Factor Articles
- Casey meets with international experts to assess endocrine disruptor testing (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/1/science-casey/index.htm)
- NICEATM holds workshop on new safety tests for pertussis vaccines (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/1/science-niceatm/index.htm)
- Fall NICEATM activities focus on international collaborations (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/12/science-NICEATM/index.htm)
- Committee recommends using fewer animals in eye hazard testing (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-committee/index.htm)
- Veterinary group recognizes animal welfare as specialty (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/spotlight-veterinary/index.htm)
- Moving forward with alternative test methods (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/10/spotlight-sacatm/index.htm)
- Upcoming workshop on innovative safety tests for pertussis vaccines (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/10/science-upcoming/index.htm)
- NICEATM publishes biennial report (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/9/science-biennial/index.htm)
- Federal agencies accept ICCVAM-recommended testing methods (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/9/science-iccvam/index.htm)
- NICEATM seeks comment on draft plan for 2013-2017 (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/7/Spotlight-NICEATM/index.htm)
- Upcoming workshop on Leptospira vaccine potency testing (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/6/science-vaccine/index.htm)
- Science showcases grantee and NIEHS/NTP tox efforts (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/4/science-science/index.htm)
- Federal agencies respond to test method recommendations (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/3/science-method/index.htm)
- NICEATM workshop report on vaccine testing now available (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/1/science-niceatm/index.htm)
- NTP alternatives center showcases accomplishments (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/october/science-ntp/index.cfm)
-
Warren Casey, Ph.D., D.A.B.T. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/dntp/niceatm/staff/casey/index.cfm)
Acting Director
NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) -
Tel (919) 316-4729
Fax (919) 541-0947
Warren.Casey@nih.gov