IIVS Receives First Mark Twain Ethical Science Award for Successes In Replacing Animals for Chemical and Product Safety Testing

GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of its leadership in the optimization, validation and routine use of non-animal testing methods, The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), Inc. has been awarded the first Mark Twain Ethical Science Award. This honor, presented by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), recognizes IIVS for its successes in helping hundreds of companies world-wide utilize testing strategies that minimize the use of animals, while at the same time maintain or improve the current level of safety for the public.

IIVS is a non-profit organization operating as a center of excellence for in vitro (non-animal) methods used for product safety testing purposes. IIVS's knowledge of the science and application of alternatives to animal experiments is recognized by regulatory agencies worldwide. It provides education and training for chemical and personal care product companies internationally, enabling them to successfully apply non-animal methods within their product testing programs. IIVS also performs testing services in their own quality controlled laboratories providing access to their expert scientific team on a contract basis.

"We are honored to be the first recipient of this prestigious award from PETA", said Dr Rodger Curren, President of IIVS. "Their continued support of our work to expand the application of non-animal methods for product testing has been extremely critical for many of our successes". As an example, Curren pointed out that PETA had recently provided partial funding for IIVS to participate in an international study for non-animal methods to detect skin irritants which resulted in the European Union accepting certain reconstructed human skin models for regulatory submissions. Curren added that an increasing number of scientists have found that the use of human artificial tissue constructs for product safety testing can provide much more accurate assessments of the potential risk to humans than testing in animals.

IIVS has worked for over thirteen years to advance the field of in vitro alternatives. The Mark Twain Ethical Science Award provides a clear demonstration of the impact of its work.

About IIVS

IIVS is a non-profit organization wholly dedicated to the promotion of rapid and innovative non-animal testing methods. Founded in 1997, IIVS is recognized as a leading provider of in vitro testing in support of toxicological safety evaluations. Rigorous scientific programs coupled with educational and outreach initiatives have established IIVS as a global leader in the advancement of alternatives to animal testing.

For more information please visit www.iivs.org

SOURCE Institute for In Vitro Sciences

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