PETA Science Group, IIVS, and Indian Labs Join Forces to Advance Non-Animal Toxicity Testing

For Immediate Release:
October 9, 2026

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

PETA Science Consortium International e.V. and the Institute for In Vitro Sciences co-organized first-of-their-kind, hands-on training courses in India on state-of-the-art non-animal toxicity testing methods. The courses were held between 2-8 October in collaboration with the National Institute for Biologicals (NIB) and Jai Research Foundation (JRF).

Before pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other chemicals are bought and sold, regulatory agencies require testing to assess their potential toxicity to humans and the environment. Every year, millions of animals are used in these tests, many of which were developed decades ago. Today, non-animal testing approaches based on human cells and computational tools can be used instead to produce data that are more relevant to humans, a step forward in technology and science.

The multi-day training courses mark the first time these sessions were open to the scientific community in India, attracting more than seventy-five scientists interested in gaining practical experience with reliable and human-relevant methods for chemical and drug assessment.

Held at NIB (near Delhi, India) and JRF (near Mumbai, India), the courses provided participants with intensive hands-on training in state-of-the-art methods, including those that replace the use of rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and other animals in assessing skin irritation, eye irritation, skin sensitization, phototoxicity, and respiratory toxicity.

Scientists from Corteva provided scientific input on the program, and Colgate-Palmolive provided travel funding for several participants. Tissue models used in the training sessions were generously provided by leading in vitro technology developers, MatTek and EPISKIN, allowing participants to gain direct experience with advanced non-animal testing approaches.

“We are pleased to partner with IIVS and laboratories in India to offer innovative courses that give scientists hands-on experience with non-animal toxicity testing methods—an essential step towards advancing reliable and relevant science,” says Science Consortium President Dr. Amy Clippinger. “Equipping scientists with the skills to use these methods accelerates the uptake of approaches that can better protect human health and the environment.”

“Interest in using advanced human-relevant test methods is global,” says IIVS Vice President for Education and Outreach Kristie Sullivan. “It is important to work with laboratories, regulators, and scientists in India to encourage adoption of these methods, and we are grateful for the support and engagement by like-minded organizations to facilitate opportunities like these.”

The training program was adapted from the IIVS Practical Methods Training Course, which has trained hundreds of scientists worldwide. Hosting these training opportunities to India increases their accessibility to scientists in India and advances the use of non-animal toxicity testing approaches.

For more information, please visit ThePSCI.eu or IIVS.org.