Education is a primary component of the Institute's mission. Our goal is to improve and expedite in vitro method development and validation through cooperation, exchange of information, and training.

We bring together assay users and scientific experts working in the field to evaluate methods, identify assay limitations and strengths, and to develop improvement strategies. For fully developed methods, hands-on laboratory training ensures the understanding and proper use of in vitro alternative methods to animal testing.

We meet these objectives with three types of workshops:

• Technical Workshop
  
• User Groups
• General workshops, which include hands-on training

These Workshops focus primarily on the technical, or "nuts and bolts", aspects of a specific assay or a specific toxicological end point. There is a small group of participants, generally invited because of their extensive experience or specialized knowledge of the assay. The goal of this type of workshop is to clearly define and understand the protocol for conducting the assay and to investigate the mechanistic relationship between the in vitro assay and the animal or human toxicological endpoint of interest. The work product of such a meeting is a document outlining the state-of-the-art of the assay and delineating what additional investigations/modifications should be undertaken.

User Groups

A second type of meeting is designed to look more generally at how an in vitro method performs. This is generally a larger, open forum whose purpose is to share information about how well a specific test performs in predicting the toxicological endpoint of interest. In such a forum we discuss the ability of specific in vitro assays to predict injury in humans or animals, and the usefulness of the method for performing toxicological safety assessments of new products or chemicals. It is important that individuals share their scientific findings on the strengths and weaknesses of each assay so that time and effort is not wasted on redundant investigations.

User's Groups are meant to have a wider audience than the Technical Workshops. Attendees share information about the application of specific assays, discuss how the data are interpreted, and review how safety decisions are made. The speakers are experienced users of the assays who present data from different industries and product types. The audience is generally composed of toxicologists who want information on how others in their field are using the methods, representatives of regulatory agencies who desire a better understanding of the assays, or individuals from animal welfare organizations who would like to know the latest developments in alternatives.

General Workshops

Here activities are lab oriented, and focus on several different in vitro assays so that the attendee becomes acquainted with the variety in vitro assays that may be available to investigate diverse toxicological and basic research problems.

• Workshop On Practical Methods In In Vitro Toxicology - The Practical Method Workshop is a true, hands-on training session. The purpose of the workshop is to acquaint in vitro users with the technical nuances of many in vitro assays so that the attendees may better apply the in vitro test methodologies in their own research and testing. Participants work in the lab and attend lectures that highlight the basic techniques required to conduct in vitro assays. 
  

• Specialized Workshops - Often individual companies or organizations contact us to request group training. These sessions almost always contain both laboratory and lecture activities, but they can be tailored according to the specific desires of the group. We have designed these workshops for animal welfare groups, government agencies, and product safety divisions of several companies.

Please watch for our latest news, events and workshop announcements in our News & Events calendar.