As part of the TWINALT project implementation, 11 S&T courses (14 topics) were organized during the project’s course. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic reality, some courses were conducted online, if possible. Some courses were divided into two parts, i.e. a theoretical part (online for a wider audience) and/or hands-on practical training (on-site, only for partnership researchers). The interactive online courses attracted many participants from different countries and became very popular (about 550 participants). In addition to the S&T courses, four Consortium Events (CEs) were organized during the TWINALT project to improve researchers’ soft skills through transferable skills training. There were organized 4 events with approx.. 240 participants.
Three Stakeholder Events with about 250 participants were organized and especially dedicated to the representatives of pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies form R&D branch. These events reported on the current status of alternative methods of toxicity testing, regulatory issues in combination with the presentation of a testing offer and portfolio of NIOM.
Diverse channels, such as social and local media, have been used to reach broader audiences, including teenagers, young individuals, and students. The TWINALT website (twinalt.com) features a homepage delineating the project’s mission and vision, along with pages containing the project summary, details about the consortium partners, an events calendar, and contact information. Updates, including news, events, upcoming workshops and blog posts, were simultaneously shared on TWINALT’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn.
Moreover, the TWINALT project and its objectives were featured in Platinum magazine through an article presented in both Italian and English. The Polish Press Agency and on biotechnologia.pl contributed to the dissemination of information by releasing an online article in Polish on alternative methods for toxicity assessment. NIOM’s team also realized three TV reports on alternative methods, broadcasted on TV and Youtube channel. These reportages showcase NIOM scientists illustrating alternative methods for toxicity assessment and providing insights into the laboratory work. Viewers could also get acquainted with the impressions of participants involved in on-site courses as part of the TWINALT project.
An online workshop was specifically organized for 3rd class high school students with an extended program in biology and chemistry. Two additional lectures were primarily dedicated to students enrolled in life science-related faculties at Lodz University and members of two societies in Lodz: the Polish Society of Toxicology and the Polish Biophysical Society. Students from three high schools participated in an Open Day at NIOM. Students enrolled in science-oriented classes had the opportunity to listen to a lecture that introduced the concept of alternative methods for cytotoxicity testing. A collaborative effort with the Innovation Centre 3Rs (IC-3Rs) and the RE-Place project led to the organization of the Joint 3R Symposium, taking place from September 19th to 21st, 2023 and hosted at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Project partners published eleven peer-reviewed scientific articles related to TWINALT topics/trainings , specifically in the areas of genotoxicity, nanotoxicology and skin sensitization. In total, thirty-one scientific publications, including the aforementioned eleven articles, were generated and made accessible through the freely available OpenAIRE Zenodo repository, following the established terms and procedures of access. Additionally, project partners actively participated in number of international conferences, delivering both oral and poster presentations acknowledged to TWINALT: 25 oral presentations (4 of which received awards) across 16 conferences and 25 poster presentations (4 of which received awards) at 9 conferences.
All four TWINALT partners are actively involved in the new large European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) that was launched in 2022 with similar, but more robust overarching goals to consolidate and strengthen the EU's research and innovation capacity for chemical risk assessment to protect human health and the environment.
