Alternatives are methods that avoid the use of sentient animals for biomedical research, the testing of efficacy and safety (toxicity), and teaching.
Alternatives comprise :
making maximum use of existing information
computer (in silico) modelling
cells in tissue culture (in vitro models)
lower organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi, nematode worms amd insects (e.g. Drosophila)
human studies (epidemiology and volunteer/patient clinical trials).
Many types of alternative methods exist, which can be used singly or in various combinations.
There is increasing pressure to avoid using conventional animal methods
due to ethical, financial and regulatory reasons.
Combes Consulting helps with the selection of the most appropriate alternative methods for your particular needs.
Selected publications
Combes, R.D. (2006). Alternatives to animal testing. In: Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry II Volume 1, (D. J. Triggle & J.B. Taylor, Eds.), Elsevier,Oxford, pp 463-487.
Bhogal, N., Combes, R. & Balls, M. (2008). Preclinical drug development and planning. In: Preclinical Development Handbook: Toxicology, S. Cox Gad, (Ed.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, pp. 1-63.
Jacobs, M.N., Janssens, W., Bernauer, U., Brandon, E., Coecke, S., Combes, R., Edwards, P., Freidig, A., Freyberger, A., Kolanczyk, R., Mc Ardle, C., Mekenyan, O., Schmieder, P., Schrader, T., Takeyoshi, M. & van der Burg, B. (2008). The use of metabolising systems for in vitro testing of endocrine disruptors- a detailed review paper. Current Drug Metabolism (in press).
Combes, R.D. (2008). In silico methods for toxicity prediction I. Principles and types of systems and their validation. In: New Technologies for Toxicity Testing, N. Bhogal, M. Balls & R. Combes (Eds.), Landes Bioscience (Georgetown, TX., USA) (in press).
Combes, R.D. (2008). In silico methods for toxicity prediction II. Applications and regulatory acceptance, In: New Technologies for Toxicity Testing, N. Bhogal, M. Balls & R. Combes (Eds.). Landes Bioscience (Georgetown, TX., USA) (in press).
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