[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65167-65168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25667]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of 
Alternative Methods Communities of Practice Webinar on Use of Animal-
Free Affinity Reagents; Notice of Public Webinar; Registration 
Information

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of 
Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) announces a public webinar ``Use of 
Animal-free Affinity Reagents.'' The webinar is organized on behalf of 
ICCVAM by the National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the 
Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM). Interested 
persons may participate via WebEx. Time will be allotted for questions 
from the audience. Information about the webinar and registration are 
available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/commprac-2020.

DATES: 
    Webinar: January 21, 2020, 11:00 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. 
EST.

[[Page 65168]]

    Registration for Webinar: December 9, 2019, until 12:30 p.m. EST 
January 21, 2020.
    Registration to view the webinar is required.

ADDRESSES: Webinar web page https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/commprac-2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Warren Casey, Director, NICEATM, 
Division of NTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, K2-17, Research Triangle Park, 
NC 27709. Phone: 984-287-3118, Email: [email protected]. Hand 
Deliver/Courier address: 530 Davis Drive, Room K2021, Morrisville, NC 
27560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: ICCVAM promotes the development and validation of 
toxicity testing methods that protect human health and the environment 
while replacing, reducing, or refining animal use. ICCVAM also provides 
guidance to test method developers and facilitates collaborations that 
promote the development of new test methods. To address these goals, 
ICCVAM will hold a Communities of Practice webinar on ``Use of Animal-
free Affinity Reagents.''
    Affinity reagents such as antibodies are used in a range of 
research, diagnostic, and regulatory applications. However, traditional 
methods for producing such reagents require immunization of laboratory 
animals. Therefore, even when applied to nonanimal test methods, their 
use is inconsistent with the spirit of replacing, reducing, or refining 
animal use. Use of animal-based affinity reagents also introduces 
variability into the methods that use them.
    This webinar will present a review of the usefulness and 
limitations of nonanimal-derived affinity reagents and their potential 
to replace animal-derived reagents. The preliminary agenda and 
additional information about presentations will be posted at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/commprac-2020 as available.
    Webinar and Registration: This webinar is open to the public with 
time scheduled for questions by participants following each 
presentation. Registration for the webinar is required and is open 
through 12:30 p.m. EST on January 21, 2020. Registration is available 
at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/commprac-2020. Interested individuals 
are encouraged to visit this web page to stay abreast of the most 
current webinar information. Registrants will receive instructions on 
how to access and participate in the webinar in the email confirming 
their registration.
    Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to participate 
in this event should contact Elizabeth Maull at phone: (984) 287-3157 
or email: [email protected]. TTY users should contact the Federal TTY 
Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Requests should be made at least five 
business days in advance of the event.
    Background Information on ICCVAM and NICEATM: ICCVAM is an 
interagency committee composed of representatives from 16 federal 
regulatory and research agencies that require, use, generate, or 
disseminate toxicological and safety testing information. ICCVAM 
conducts technical evaluations of new, revised, and alternative safety 
testing methods and integrated testing strategies with regulatory 
applicability and promotes the scientific validation and regulatory 
acceptance of testing methods that more accurately assess the safety 
and hazards of chemicals and products and replace, reduce, or refine 
(enhance animal well-being and lessen or avoid pain and distress) 
animal use.
    The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3) establishes 
ICCVAM as a permanent interagency committee of NIEHS and provides the 
authority for ICCVAM involvement in activities relevant to the 
development of alternative test methods. Additional information about 
ICCVAM can be found at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/iccvam.
    NICEATM administers ICCVAM, provides scientific and operational 
support for ICCVAM-related activities, and conducts and publishes 
analyses and evaluations of data from new, revised, and alternative 
testing approaches. NICEATM and ICCVAM work collaboratively to evaluate 
new and improved testing approaches applicable to the needs of U.S. 
federal agencies. NICEATM and ICCVAM welcome the public nomination of 
new, revised, and alternative test methods and strategies for 
validation studies and technical evaluations. Additional information 
about NICEATM can be found at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/niceatm.

    Dated: November 18, 2019.
Brian R. Berridge,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-25667 Filed 11-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P