NOTOX

Portrait of Elmar Heinzle, Coordinator of the EU Project NOTOX

Prof. Elmar Heinzle

Scientific Coordinator of NOTOX, based at Saarland University, Germany

Research field

Systems Biology, Toxicology

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Research Profile

Who?

Professor Elmar Heinzle is a Chemical Engineer at the University of Saarland in Germany. He is the Scientific Coordinator of the NOTOX project. “My professional interests are cellular networks and metabolic engineering. Alternatives for animal testing clearly have to involve computer models”, says Elmar Heinzle.

Why?

Since the ban on the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals came into force, the search for alternative testing methods for safety assessment is more pressing than ever. The development of non-animal testing methods, especially when it comes to reliably predicting long-term toxic effects, is a major scientific challenge.

What?

Your liver is responsible for the elimination of toxic substances from your body. NOTOX scientists use test tube experiments to learn how toxins affect liver cells. Prof. Heinzle: “We will use our observations in cells to develop computer models. These will help to predict the long-term toxic effects of cosmetics on the body.”

How?

NOTOX brings together eleven internationally renowned and interdisciplinary research teams from all over Europe. NOTOX technologies will base predictions on biological mechanisms of action. The computer models will allow for reliable long-term predictions and thus help to replace animal testing in the long run.

Developing computer-aided methods to replace animal testing

In the Picture
In the Picture
NOTOX project website NOTOX Leaflet (scientific audience) NOTOX Leaflet (public audience) SEURAT-1 Cosmetics Europe Communications of the ACM ECVAM - The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods ECOPA - The European Consensus-Platform for alternatives ESTIV - European Society of Toxicology in Vitro Eurotox - linking all toxicology societies in Europe EPAA - The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing ECHA - The European Chemicals Agency PDF versionPDF version
Image credits

Background image: Sytske Roskam

Portrait of the project coordinator: NOTOX

Timeline (in chronological order): NOTOX