Histola Research Ltd started a new in vitro -cell laboratory.

"Now we are able to offer several new testing and research services in our new in vitro laboratory" says Senior Scientist Marika Mannerström from Histola Research Ltd. New laboratory is fully equipped and will get the GLP status during year 2008. New services covers many OECD-validated and almost validated tests, like skin corrosion, skin irritation, eye irritation and so on. "Our aim is offer as many human cell based tests as possible to replace animal tests" says Mannerström.

There are long tradition in Tampere area in developing alternative testing methods for animal tests. In University of Tampere Professor Hanna Tähti has developed and started validation process for new cell culture models for in vitro toxicology and for drug development. She has been leading research to develop methods for the safety evaluation of drugs and chemicals in vitro. The current research projects deal with developing an in vitro blood-brain barrier model for the evaluation of drug effects on the central nervous system, and a 3-dimensional model for the evaluation of the metabolism-induced toxicity in the target cells.