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

Regulators

Environmental protection

Chemical registration

Pharmaceuticals

Pesticides

Cosmetics

Biocides

Industry

Chemicals

Pharmaceuticals

Pesticides

Food

NGOs

Environmental protection

Animal protection

Citizens

Citizens Associations

Consumer Associations

Academia

Information technology

Toxicology

Chemistry

Environmental sciences

Students

PhD students

Masters students