Objective A battery of reliable and validated in vitro assays is needed to test for genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of chemicals (as in the REACH programme) without resorting to animal experiments. The comet assay, a sensitive indicator of DNA damage, will be combined in this project with the Cell Array system, to establish and validate high capacity assays suitable for chemical testing. Up to 800 cell samples will be processed for comets on a single microscope slide. Arrays will use cells with different metabolic capabilities, and data on cytotoxicity will be obtained in parallel with DNA damage. A medium-throughput assay will also be developed. Comet analysis by differential staining of damaged/undamaged DNA using established and novel dyes combined with automated image analysis will be faster and more reliable than at present. A crucial aspect of the cellular response to DNA damage is DNA repair; variations between people can affect cancer risk. Genotoxic chemicals can act by interfering with repair. Two methods for measuring repair, one based on the comet assay, the other using a 'Repair Chip' approach, will be compared. In addition, fluorescent probes which lock onto the DNA after hybridization ('padlock probes') will be applied to study gene-specific DNA repair. The modified comet assay methods will be assessed for reproducibility and sensitivity in an inter-laboratory prevalidation trial, using a coded set of standard chemicals, to satisfy regulatory bodies as well as industrial users of the technology. The result will be robust, validated, high-throughput in vitro genotoxicity tests. This proposal brings together academic partners and SMEs, together with a large industrial concern, and the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). Dissemination through professional and trade publications, regulatory channels, and scientific conferences will lead to widespread adoption of the new methods. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencescometsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology Programme(s) FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH - Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health: Thematic Priority 1 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) LSH-2005-1.2.3-4 - Development of new in vitro tests to replace animal experimentation Call for proposal FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-7 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITETET I OSLO Address Problemveien 7 Oslo Norway See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (14) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all IMSTAR S.A. France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 60 rue notre dame des champs Paris See on map Links Website Opens in new window JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue de la loi 200 Brussels See on map Links Website Opens in new window NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH Norway EU contribution € 0,00 Address Geitmyrsveien 75,0462 oslo 4 Oslo See on map Links Website Opens in new window SLOVAK MEDICAL UNIVERSITY Slovakia EU contribution € 0,00 Address Limbova 12 Bratislava See on map Links Website Opens in new window CHIRON AS Norway EU contribution € 0,00 Address Stiklestadveien 1 Trondheim See on map Links Website Opens in new window TATAA BIOCENTER AB Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Medicinaregatan 8a Göteborg See on map Links Website Opens in new window ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address Stanhope gate 15 London See on map Links Website Opens in new window THISTLE SCIENTIFIC LIMITED GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address 71 ochiltree Dunblane, perthshire See on map Links Website Opens in new window SEVERN BIOTECH LTD GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address Park lane, kidderminster Kidderminster, worcestershire See on map Links Website Opens in new window BIOPREDIC INTERNATIONAL France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 8-18 rue jean pecker Rennes See on map Links Website Opens in new window UPPSALA UNIVERSITY Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sankt olofsgatan 10b Uppsala See on map Links Website Opens in new window COMMISSARIAT À L' ENERGIE ATOMIQUE France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Batiment le ponant d - 25 rue leblanc Paris See on map Links Website Opens in new window INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTÉ ET DE LA RECHERCHE MÉDICALE France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 101 rue de tolbiac Paris See on map Links Website Opens in new window USTAV EXPERIMENTALNI BOTANIKY - AKADEMIE VED CESKE REPUBLIKY Czechia EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rozvojová 135 Praha 6 - lysolaje See on map Links Website Opens in new window