Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing—Europe Established

The University of Konstanz and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have jointly established the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing—Europe (CAAT-EU) in an effort to promote better coordination in toxicity testing. The new Center, modeled after the Bloomberg School‘s Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), will conduct scientific research to find new methods to replace the use of laboratory animals in studies, reduce the number of animals needed for research, and to refine necessary tests to eliminate the pain and distress of animals in research. CAAT-EU will hold an inauguration ceremony in Konstanz, Germany, on March 30.

Marcel Leist, professor at the University or Konstanz, will lead CAAT-EU, along with Thomas Hartung, the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Professor and Chair for Evidence-based Toxicology, and director of CAAT at the Bloomberg School. Hartung also holds an appointment as professor at the University of Konstanz.

“As a transatlantic cooperation center, CAAT-EU will unite its activities in the field of alternatives and toxicology at the University of Konstanz and combine them strategically with the activities of the Bloomberg School’s CAAT in the U.S.,” said Leist.

“Sound science is the bridge, not only across the Atlantic, but also for a future with safer products using fewer animals,” added Hartung.

The CAAT-EU board of directors includes EuroGroup for Animals, an umbrella organization of more than 30 animal protection organizations, and ECOPA—the European consensus platform for alternative methods made up of representatives of universities, industry, animal protection organizations and governments.

CAAT was founded at the Bloomberg School of Public Health in 1981 as an academic, science-based center to provide a better, safer, more humane future for people and animals. The University of Konstanz has more than 20 years of experience in studying alternatives to animal research. CAAT-EU will collaborate with CAAT to develop a worldwide standard for chemical testing.

“Konstanz is the ideal location for this enterprise,” said Ulrich Ruediger, rector of the University of Konstanz. “Here we have a tradition of intensive support for alternative methods.”

“The mission of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is to protect health and save lives through research and education,” said Michael J. Klag, dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We work with partners around the world and look forward to our collaboration with the University of Konstanz.”

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