Slovak Scientists Recognized at a Prestigious International Congress in the USA
Researchers from the Insitute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (IEPT) at the Centre of Experimental Medicine of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) have been honored with a prestigious award at the annual meeting of the US Society of Toxicology (SOT) in Florida, USA. Their work was recognized by the Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section for its outstanding contribution to in vitro biocompatibility testing of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
The awarded study, titled "Development of Sensitive In Vitro Protocols for the Biocompatibility Testing of Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals Intended for Contact with the Eyes: Acute Irritation and Phototoxicity Assessment", has been published in the renowned journal Alternatives to Laboratory Animals (ATLA) and is available in open-access format. The primary author of the awarded research is internal PhD student Ing. Peter Pôbiš, who delivered a highly regarded presentation at SOT, sparking strong interest among experts in the field.
The study introduces novel in vitro protocols for assessing eye irritation and phototoxicity using the EpiOcular reconstructed human tissue model. These findings represent a significant step towards reducing the need for animal testing and integrating reliable alternative methods into regulatory standards.
"It is a great honour for us that our work has been recognized at such a prestigious international forum. This success motivates us to continue our efforts toward the inclusion of in vitro methods in standards such as ISO," said Dr Helena Kandarová, the director of IEPT, co-author of the study and a member of the Slovak technical working group on medical device biocompatibility.
The primary author of the awarded research is internal PhD student Ing. Peter Pôbiš, who delivered a highly regarded presentation at SOT, sparking strong interest among experts in the field.
This recognition highlights the high quality of research conducted at the Slovak Academy of Sciences and its growing impact on the global scientific community. The research has been supported by VEGA and APVV grants.
Edited by Monika Tináková
Foto: ÚEFT CEM SAV, v. v. i.