Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is like a Swiss Army Knife of research and technology, active in the fields of information technology, materials, space resources and the environment. LIST develops competitive and market-oriented product/service prototypes for public and private stakeholders. It works across the entire innovation chain: fundamental/applied research, incubation, technology transfer. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies. This passion for innovation extends to the field of environmental health, where LIST’s research plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable scientific practices.
LIST’s activities in developing in vitro assays as replacement of animal experiments, nano-toxicology and risk assessment are undertaken by the Environmental Health (EH) research group, which belongs to the Environmental Sustainability and Circularity (SUSTAIN) unit.
The team, led by Prof. Dr. Arno C. Gutleb, has extensive experience in the development of complex in vitro models for human safety. In addition, the EH group has large experience in human and environmental risk assessment, in the development of alternative testing strategies for nano-materials and chemicals, in eco-toxicology and in the development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including 3D in vitro models, particularly for the lung (alveolar region) and the small intestine.
The multi-faceted Role of LIST in the CHIASMA Project
Within the CHIASMA Project, LIST assumes two pivotal roles: (1) LIST is responsible for Project Coordination and Management, making sure everyone’s on the same page while ensuring proper accomplishment of all project-related goals, (2) LIST leads WP2 on Development of Experimental NAMs where LIST together will all project partners prepare, develop and demonstrate the (new) experimental NAMs and ensure that they are relevant for regulatory practice.
“Together, we’re forging a path to a new era in safety assessment, proving that a more ethical, sustainable future is not just possible—it’s happening.”
[Dr Tommaso Serchi, CHIASMA Project Coordinator]
Additionally, LIST will contribute to the in-project validation of selected NAMs, including the ALIsens lung alveolar model, which is constructed on a combination of four cell lines (epithelial cells, macrophages, monocytes and endothelial cells) grown at the air-liquid-interface (ALI) in hanging inserts. Beyond technical development, LIST provides regulatory support and contribute to stakeholder outreach.
“Society is increasingly calling for more ethical and sustainable practices, and safety assessment is no exception. CHIASMA is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for animal-free regulatory evaluation of chemicals and materials. As both the coordinator and a key partner in CHIASMA, LIST is fully committed to driving the transition from traditional animal-based safety testing to advanced, animal-free alternatives. While we recognise that the journey ahead is challenging, we firmly believe that through the collaborative efforts of LIST and our CHIASMA partners, we can demonstrate that meaningful change is not only possible but within reach.”
[Dr Tommaso Serchi, CHIASMA Project Coordinator]
In its capacity within the CHIASMA Project, LIST contributes to the construction of the CHIASMA Assessment Framework, allowing human and environmental safety and environmental impact assessment using an iterative multi-step approach based on next generation safety assessment (NGSA) approaches.
