The Development of Novel Approaches to the Identification of Chemical and Protein Respiratory Allergens Progress made from the Conclusions and Recommendations of ECVAM Workshop 60a

In October 2006, the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) sponsored and hosted a three-day workshop to consider opportunities and challenges in the development of alternative methods for the identification and characterisation of chemical respiratory allergens. The proceedings, conclusions and recommendations of that workshop were subsequently made available as ECVAM Workshop Report 60 (1). In April 2008, a second meeting was convened by ECVAM to consider what progress has been made in the light of the recommendations derived from the 2006 Workshop and the published report. This meeting had as a second objective — to consider whether new opportunities for the identification and characterisation of chemical respiratory allergens had emerged since 2006. In addition, the scope of the meeting was broadened to also include an examination of new and emerging approaches that may be appropriate for the evaluation of the respiratory sensitising potential of proteins. The Identification and Characterisation of Chemical Respiratory Allergens: Progress Since 2006