Examining animal testing for risk assessment: A WC-12 workshop report

Area of Science:

• Toxicology and Regulatory Science
• Animal Welfare and Ethics

Background:

• Animal testing is a foundational yet contentious aspect of toxicological and regulatory science.
• A workshop at the 12th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (WC-12) addressed the ongoing debate.
• The discourse centered on the scientific justification and ethical imperatives for generating new animal data in regulatory contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To facilitate open dialogue on the necessity and responsibility of defending new animal data in regulatory testing.
• To explore diverse perspectives on stakeholder obligations in the development and use of new animal data.
• To capture key insights from discussions on scientific progress and ethical considerations in toxicology.

Main Methods:

• A panel and audience discussion format was employed at the WC-12 workshop.
• The workshop focused on critical dialogue and collective introspection among diverse scientific sectors and countries.
• Key elements of the discussion were summarized in this report.

Main Results:

• Identified the complex interplay between scientific advancement and ethical responsibilities in regulatory toxicology.
• Highlighted the need for shared understanding of stakeholder roles (industry, regulators, developers, scientists, NGOs).
• Emphasized the drive towards accelerating 21st-century predictive toxicology and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).

Conclusions:

• The responsible use and defense of new animal data require careful scientific and ethical consideration.
• Collaboration among all stakeholders is crucial for advancing human health and environmental protection through modern toxicology.
• The integration of NAMs alongside traditional methods is key to evolving regulatory science.