Accurate in vitro prediction of in vivo genotoxicity and cancer hazard; reducing costs to industry and the use of animals in research

  • Richard Walmsley (Participant)
  • Paul Cahill (Participant)
  • Andrew Knight (Participant)
  • Christopher Jagger (Participant)
  • Christopher Hughes (Participant)
  • Nicholas Billinton (Participant)
  • Matthew Tate (Participant)

Impact: Economic impacts, Health impacts, Technological impacts

Narrative

Development of the human cell GADD45a assay enabled accurate identification of carcinogens in vitro, with a low rate of misleading positives. Through the spin-out company Gentronix, this research is reducing costs to industry and decreasing the use of animals in research. Industrial collaboration has enabled commercial adoption of the technology in many sectors. With a 10-fold increase in orders in 2012 versus 2008, Gentronix is a profitable business employing 17 people and with an annual turnover of £1.88m. During 2008-12, Gentronix released a series of new products, established testing services, and signed a product license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline. More than 100 companies worldwide are using Gentronix kits, including pharmaceutical, agricultural and health and beauty companies, along with manufacturers of food flavourings and household goods. The Gentronix assay is currently being reviewed by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods.
Impact date2014
Category of impactEconomic impacts, Health impacts, Technological impacts
Impact levelBenefit

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