About ORCHESTRA
ORCHESTRA is an EU project, funded to disseminate recent research on computer-based in silico methods for evaluating the toxicity of chemicals.
•• In silico methods make it possible to test large numbers of chemicals (as required by EU REACH legislation) while reducing the numbers of tests on animals.
The aim of the project is therefore to promote wider understanding, awareness and appropriate use of in silico methods.
The project team includes scientists involved in toxicology and the development of in silico methods, and social scientists specializing in the analysis and responsible communication of science research.
The ORCHESTRA project will interact directly, and through this web portal, with a range of stakeholder organizations and individuals. Those who have a 'stake' in the development of in silico methods include not only those involved with the testing of chemical toxicity, but also all of us who are ultimately affected by the quality of that testing and/or concerned to reduce testing on animals. Stakeholders therefore include the EU and member state regulators, industry, small companies, QSAR developers, policy makers, scientists, educators, NGOs and citizens.
The initial pages of this web site and the introductory leaflet are intended to provide a first level of information for all. Further information and resources are provided for regulators and potential industry users of in silico methods.
••• Support our surveys
The actions of the project will be informed by responses to the two surveys. You are invited to respond:
- A technical survey invites industry specialists, toxicologists, QSAR developers, scientists and any others with specialist knowledge or experience, to contribute thoughts about the benefits and the barriers to the use of QSAR / in silico methods in toxicology, based on the experience of using them - or not using them.
- A policy issues survey invites policy makers, industry managers, educators, political leaders, NGOs, investors, citizens and all others who are not specialists in toxicology to comment on some of the issues that are raised and/or addressed by in silico methods.
Both surveys will help us to find out what people regard as the priorities, as well as what information is needed and how we should communicate it.
Please help to inform this project by responding.
••• Action Plan
ORCHESTRA started in September 2009. Many initiatives are planned - see the events section on the home page. Outputs will include a workshop with stakeholders, in late 2010, an E-book on the use of in silico models, a series of open-source publications, seminars and group Delphi events with ECHA, EFSA, EMEA and others.
Stakeholders to be addressed
Environmental protection
Chemical registration
Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Cosmetics
Biocides
Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Food
Environmental protection
Animal protection
Citizens Associations
Consumer Associations
Information technology
Toxicology
Chemistry
Environmental sciences
PhD students
Masters students
Projects
ORCHESTRA is intended to communicate and exploit the findings of nine previous EU-funded projects on in silico methods.
These nine projects relate to several areas, including food, environment and health. The diversity of the projects means that it will be possible to extract lessons from this dissemination that are useful for other projects.
Details of the nine projects can be found through the links below.
Stakeholders to be addressed
The ORCHESTRA project will interact directly, and through this web portal, with a range of stakeholder organizations and individuals. Those who have a "stake" in the development of in silico methods include not only those involved with the testing of chemical toxicity, but also all of us who are ultimately affected by the quality of that testing and/or concerned to reduce testing on animals. Stakeholders therefore include the EU and member state regulators, industry, small companies, QSAR developers, policy makers, scientists, educators, NGOs and citizens.
Environmental protection
Chemical registration
Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Cosmetics
Biocides
Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Food
Environmental protection
Animal protection
Citizens Associations
Consumer Associations
Information technology
Toxicology
Chemistry
Environmental sciences
PhD students
Masters students
Consortium
The Consortium of ORCHESTRA involves groups expert in dissemination and contacts with society sectors, including professional communicators, experts on communication via Internet, teachers.
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche MARIO NEGRI
PublicSpace Ltd. Research Communication
Politecnico di Milano
Institute SYMLOG de France
University of Patras
Centro Reach S.r.l
Universitat Stuttgart
Contact us
Feel free to use the contact form
E-mail: info [at] in-silico-methods.eu
You can also visit the consortium page to reach individual partners.
Technical info:
Web Design & Development | HCI Group, University of Patras
Background Graphics | Mario Negri and subcontractors
Videos Production | Publicspace
Everything in cooperation with the consortium