The 8th ESTIV Applied Training Course took place from 29 May to 2 June at the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre for Experimental Medicine (CEM SAV). The course focused on innovative approaches to toxicity assessment using in vitro and in silico procedures. Sixteen young scientists from eight European countries and Turkey participated in the course.

“The ESTIV Applied Training Course is primarily designed for experts from academia, regulatory authorities, SMEs, and CROs who have begun utilizing toxicological methods to predict substance effects through in vitro and in silico approaches, commonly known as ‘New Approach Methodologies’ or NAMs.”

The use of NAMs in toxicology is becoming increasingly significant due to European legislative changes that restrict or even prohibit the use of laboratory animals for risk assessment of chemicals, cosmetics, and even medical devices. Therefore, precise implementation of these modern methodologies is crucial. The ESTIV course aims to train young professionals based on the latest knowledge in the field of applied in vitro toxicology.

The driving force behind the creation of this course was the urgent requirement for professionals trained in in vitro and in silico toxicology for the risk assessment of chemicals and chemical mixtures. This year, we successfully organized the course in Slovakia and attracted a diverse range of participants from across Europe. Among them were scientists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, as well as representatives from state authorities such as the State Institute for Drug Control and the Centre for Chemical Substances and Preparations of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. The course’s appeal was further enhanced by a distinguished lineup of speakers, including world-renowned scientists from European universities and established companies in the field of in vitro toxicology.”

“I am delighted to observe an increasing attendance of scientists who are typically involved in toxicity testing of substances on laboratory animals. This serves as undeniable evidence that scientists recognize the importance of staying informed about the latest trends and advancements in toxicological testing methods and regulatory toxicology,” explains Dr. rer. nat., Ing. Helena Kanďárová, ERT, Director of the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology CEM SAS, President of ESTIV, and the main organizer of the course.

Ing. Marta Šoltésová Prnová, PhD, participant and scientist from the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology CEM SAS, comments on the course: “I especially appreciate that we could immediately link theory with practice. Not only did we get to try out the methodologies, but we also applied what we learnt during the analysis of real case studies of risk assessment of chemicals. Thanks to the course, I also made new contacts with colleagues working in the field of in vitro toxicology and in silico modelling.”

The European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) has organised the intensive course since 2015. The 2023 event was co-organised by the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology CEM SAS. The next edition of the ESTIV course will take place again in Slovakia in 2024. Further information will be published on the ESTIV website (www.estiv.org).

Text: Partly modified from News of CEM: https://cem.sav.sk/en/estiv-course-2023-toxicology/ (Author: Lucia Milec, CEM SAS)