ATLA appoints leading scientists as associate editors

Alternatives to Laboratory Animals (ATLA), the leading scientific journal published by FRAME, has appointed four new associate editors.

ATLA is an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal that has been key to the specialist field of laboratory animal alternatives for more than 30 years.

Joining the editorial team are leading scientists Dr Helen Kandarova, Dr Winfried Neuhaus, Dr Alicia Paini, and Dr Esther Haugabrooks, who will be responsible for editing reviews, research articles and comments on non-animal alternatives as well as on the ethical and political issues surrounding the implementation of 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) approaches.

Dr Helen Kandarova is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Bratislava and a European Registered Toxicologist. With a specific interest in the development, validation and implementation of in vitro methods for the reduction and replacement of in vivo tests for the topical toxicity testing of chemicals, cosmetics, pesticides and medical devices, Dr Kandarova is the current chair of the Slovak National Platform for implementation of the 3Rs in science and education, and was recently elected as president of the European Society for Toxicology in Vitro (ESTIV).

A Principal Scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), Dr Winfried Neuhaus leads the Biological Barriers Group and has more than 18 years of expertise in the biological barriers research field, focusing on in vitro models and in vitro / in vivo translatability in health and disease. He is also the current president of the European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT).

Dr Alicia Paini carried out her PhD in Toxicology at the Nestlé Research Centre, Switzerland, and is a European Registered Toxicologist. For the past eight years, she has been working on implementing and promoting the use of in silico tools as alternatives to animal testing for policy and application in regulatory decision making at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) EURL ECVAM.

A toxicologist at the PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), based in Washington, DC, Dr Esther Haugabrooks works in the Research and Regulatory Affairs Department reviewing and promoting the implementation of new approach methodologies for US and international regulatory use. She also coordinates the PCRM’s efforts as secretariat for the ICAPO (International Council on Animal Protection in OECD Programmes), and is the programme manager for New Approach Methodology Use for Regulatory Application (NURA).

Commenting on the appointments, ATLA editor-in-chief, Dr Judith Madden, says: “We are very pleased that four leading scientists, with a wide range of expertise in the 3Rs, have joined us as associate editors. Having experts from the UK, continental Europe and the United States working together enables us to identify and publicise emerging trends and the latest research in alternatives from these key regions.

“ATLA has global reach in the promotion of alternative methods to animal testing, featuring articles from North and South America, as well as Europe and Asia. In particular, the journal actively engages those countries where the acceptance and use of alternatives is not well established – achieved not only by providing information on new developments in the area of alternatives to help change working practices, but also by inspiring and supporting those involved in driving forward that change through informed campaigning.”

ATLA is published six times a year by FRAME, in partnership with SAGE Publishing, with articles on the latest research relating to the development, validation, introduction and use of alternatives to laboratory animals and reports on the latest news and events. The journal also provides reviews on publications and products and provides additional insight into significant research papers in the field of alternatives.

Celean Camp, CEO of FRAME adds: “Since its inception, ATLA has played a key role in identifying, collating and disseminating the latest ideas and new methods in the area of alternatives. The appointment of four leading scientists to the editorial team will help us to build on ATLA’s legacy and position as a platform for raising awareness of the science and eliciting greater uptake and acceptance of alternative, non-animal methods, in scientific research.”

FRAME is committed to replacing the use of animals in scientific experiments, and is dedicated to the development and implementation of new and scientifically valid methods that will replace the need for laboratory animals in medical and scientific research, education, and testing.

To find out more about ATLA, click here.