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PROJECT PARTNERS

In the project the following centers experienced in alternative toxicity testing take part – NIOM – Coordinator  (Poland), VUB (Belgium), NILU (Norway) and UMIL (Italy).

Norwegia

NILU-Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning, Kjeller, Norway

NILU is an independent, non-profit research institution. It was established in 1969 and is one of the leading European institutes in environmental and climate research. The environmental chemistry research at NILU has been graded excellently in terms of scientific quality and productivity in an evaluation of basic chemistry research in Norway by the Research Council, with a top score in the evaluation of geosciences (Flexpart-group). NILU has several roles related to monitoring, chemical analysis, modelling and life cycle analysis related to environmental pollution and climate change and takes an active part in EU research programs. 

The institute has an excellent track record for participation and management of externally funded projects internationally, as well as nationally, including 41 projects under FP7 (about 12 mill EUR) and about 15 projects under H2020, including one coordination and one ERC grant. NILU’s laboratories are among the most advanced in Europe and perform a number of EN/ISO/IEC 17025 accredited inorganic and organic analyses. 

 Toxicological research at NILU is undertaken by the Health Effects Laboratory (HEL), which is certified for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in in vitro toxicology, genotoxicology and nanotoxicology. HEL is among the leading laboratories in Europe in in vitro toxicology and nanogenotoxicology. The main areas of interest for HEL are genotoxicity, carcinogenicity in vitro, epigenetics, advanced in vitro models, risk assessment and regulatory aspects, a high-throughput approach to toxicity testing, intelligent testing strategy and adverse outcome pathways. NILU gives expertise in various committees and has members in the ISO Committees for Standards Norway, and appointed member in the EU Scientific Committee of Consumer Safety (SCCS). Nationally, HEL has a member in the expert group for toxicology and for nanosafety research. 

NILU was also National coordinator for nanosafety in Norway, holds workshops on nanosafety and communicates with different stakeholders and media. Toxicological research at NILU is undertaken by the Health Effects Laboratory (HEL), which is certified for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in in vitro toxicology, genotoxicology and nanotoxicology. HEL is among the leading laboratories in Europe in in vitro nanogenotoxicology. The main areas of interest for HEL are genotoxicity, DNA damage and repair, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity in vitro, epigenetics, advanced in vitro models, nanotoxicology and safe-by-design, risk assessment and regulatory aspects of nanomaterials, high-throughput approach to nanomaterial testing, intelligent testing strategy and adverse outcome pathways. Dr. Dusinska is scientific director of the HEL. NILU gives expertise in ISO/CEN committees in Nanotechnology and has members in the ISO Committees for Standards Norway, and appointed member in the EU Scientific Committee of Consumer Safety (SCCS). 

Nationally, HEL has a member in the expert group for toxicology and acts as national coordinator for NanoSafety research. NILU´s Health Effects Laboratory coordinates H2020 NMBP13 project RiskGONE (Risk governance of Nanotechnology) starting in 2019 and is WP leader on Dissemination in recently granted H2020NMBP14 NanoSolveIT (starting in 2019), HEL is/was partner in numerous EC projects focussed on hazard characterization and risk assessment of nanomaterials; FP6: NewGeneris, HENVINET, HEIMTSA, Intarese; FP7: NanoTEST (coordinator, focused on development of testing strategies for nanomaterials in nanomedicine), NanoImpactNet, QualityNANO, NanoTOES and NanoREG; Horizon 2020: NANoREG2 (intelligent testing strategy and grouping approach) and HISENTS (development of organ on chip), and has built extensive experience in nanomaterial for nanomedicine in EuroNanoMed II projects GEMNS and INNOCENT. In addition, NILU obtained two EEA grants and has two ongoing National projects funded by the Norwegian Research Council (NorNanoREG (coordinator), INTER and NanoBioReal). Additionally, NILU is actively involved NanoCluster – an international network on nanomaterial safety. 

NILU will be responsible for issues related to advanced in vitro 3D and co-culture models (lung, liver, etc.) and nanogenotoxicology aspects of safety assessment of chemicals and nanomaterials, and will contribute significantly to WPs 1-4 where we will apply our extensive expertise in nanogenotoxicology, advanced in vitro models, safety assessment, regulatory toxicology and uptake analysis based on microscopy technologies.