National Toxicology Program Meets on Transgenic Animals

National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesFOR RELEASE, Thursday, January 22, 1998, Sandra Lange, Tom Hawkins

Introductory presentations will review results from three lines of mice, p53def, Tg.AC and rasH2d. The scientists presenting will be Dr. Olden; Dr. George W. Lucier; Dr. Raymond W. Tennant; Dr. John E. French; Dr. Judson Spalding; Dr. Ronald E. Cannon; Dr. Robert Maronpot; Dr. William Eastin; and Dr. Christopher Portier, all of NIEHS, and Dr. Kunitoshi Mitsumori of the National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo.

Transgenic mice allow scientists to do studies on the carcinogenicity of environmental agents more rapidly than using ordinary strains of rodents. The tests use fewer animals and cost less.

Some of the issues to be addressed are: Is the NTP approach to evaluation and validation of transgenic models sufficient and appropriate? How can existing models be best utilized? What are their limitations? What new models are needed? Should NTP seek to develop organ-specific tumor models? Are the scientific needs of regulatory agencies being adequately addressed? Dr. Joseph Contrera, FDA, and Dr. Vicki Dellarco, EPA, will speak on the regulatory needs.

For advance materials on the transgenic session, contact Dr. Larry G. Hart, NTP Executive Secretary, (919) 541-3971. A February 6 session, also open, will address several other NTP matters.