(FOA)
EPA - Advancing Actionable Alternatives to Vertebrate Animal Testing for
Chemical Safety Assessment (EPA-G2018-STAR-C1); September 25, 2018
Agency
US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Description
The
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Advancing Actionable
Alternatives to Vertebrate Animal Testing for Chemical Safety Assessment
(EPA-G2018-STAR-C1) Grant Program. Institutional cost-sharing is not
required. As part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, the
EPA is seeking applications proposing research that will promote the
development and use of alternative test methods and strategies that address the
“3Rs” of toxicity testing: 1) reduce, 2) refine, and/or 3) replace vertebrate
animal testing. For the purposes of this RFA, alternative test methods
refer to those that incorporate the “3Rs” principles. Pertinent research
includes approaches such as analog/read-across techniques, mathematical models,
and tiered testing approaches that integrate evidence from multiple sources to
help accomplish these goals. In addition to the development of new alternative
test methods and strategies, translational science approaches that use
available data to develop and/or advance actionable approaches for risk
assessment of chemicals are also critical. In this context, approaches that
facilitate the use of existing animal data sources to reduce, refine, or
replace the need for new vertebrate animal tests are as welcome as those that
provide new data streams. The research activities to be funded under this
announcement are intended to advance the science underpinning the use of
non-vertebrate test methods, and to develop actionable alternative approaches
to: 1) developmental toxicity tests in humans; 2) reproductive toxicity tests
in humans; and/or 3) ecotoxicity
tests.
A
major goal of this RFA is to advance development and use of alternative test
methods and strategies to reduce, refine, and/or replace vertebrate
animal testing. While the present solicitation invites development of new
alternative test methods and strategies, translational science that makes data
from those approaches actionable in a risk assessment context is critical. In
that context, projects that establish the relevance, reliability, and
scientific quality of existing alternatives, relative to current vertebrate
testing approaches, in a way that can facilitate the acceptance and uptake in
risk assessment and decision-making, will be regarded just as favorably as
those that involve the de novo development of new in vitro assays
or in silico approaches.
Announcement
Number:
EPA-G2018-STAR-C1
Closing
Date:
September
25, 2018
Link
to Full Announcement
Contact
Information
Mitch
Lasat
202-564-7702