Commitment of Italian academic LARF-DIMES for teaching and training in alternative approach to animal testing

To underline the importance of both the ethical issues of alternative approaches to animal testing and the life sciences in the 21st century, LARF-DIMES, at the University of Genova (Italy), is engaged since 2008 in organization of training courses for dissemination of international resources using the over twenty years of experience of its staff in various fields of experimental pathology and teaching which demonstrates the greater effectiveness of animal-free testing. Moreover LARF team organizes stages for graduated and graduating students of Medicine, Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmacy degrees, PhD courses, and 2nd level Master on Reach regulations. The courses, focused on practical part and demonstration/lessons of specialist(s) working in the field, provide basic knowledge or improve existing expertise, on alternative methods. In each course, the participants get an update on innovative in vitro models with particular emphasis on 3D models. The organization plan foresees a substantial practice to allow everybody to set up cytotoxicity tests, according to OECD guidelines, and other emerging alternative in vitro models. These at least 2 days training courses are opened to 24 participants and include already experts of in vitro methods as well undergraduating students. The participants came from all over Italy, and the interest has been so high that courses are consistently oversubscribed, with unlucky participants asking to be registered on future courses to secure a place. On 2013 LARF team was one of the winners of international Lush Prize for Training category.All training modules were carried out by LARF staff and specialists from leading companies in in vitro research and models, such MatTek, ETT, Lonza, Biopredict, IvTech and others. Dissemination of 3R-knowledge ensures best possible practice for a predictive and reliable toxicology, by performing and optimizing 2D/3D in vitro models based on human cells to evaluate the health hazard.