Grant
Asterand plc, which provides drug discovery services based on human tissues, has announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended its Phase II funding of Asterand’s subsidiary BioSeek under the agency’s ToxCast screening programme.
The extension is for an additional $1.5 million, to profile the biological properties of chemical compounds, and is in addition to the $1.7 million commitment for Phase II announced in June 2009.
The current Phase II project expands upon the successful completion of the proof of concept Phase I study, which used BioSeek’s BioMAP system to assess the ability of in vitro human primary cell-based assays to predict the impact of environmental chemicals on human health.
Under the Phase II project, approximately 750 compounds and nanomaterials will be screened. The long-term goal of the ToxCast programme is to identify in vitro assays that can predict the toxicity of chemical compounds and other materials in humans and animals.
Receive the Funding Newswire [full access requires a subscription] each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.
