Federal regulatory agencies have accepted recommendations of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) for two methods that can reduce live animal use for ocular safety testing, the committee announced today.

Federal scientists are collaborating on a new approach to testing the toxicity of chemicals ranging from pesticides to household cleaners. They plan to use new automated high-speed cell tests to get more reliable data faster and more cheaply, and with less reliance on animal testing.

Pioneering work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research - and ultimately remove them from laboratories altogether - has received a major boost at The University of Nottingham.