Map of Alternative Laboratories in Latin America
Scientific and technological innovation has driven the development of alternative methods to animal testing in sectors such as cosmetics and biomedicine. These tools make it possible to evaluate the safety and efficacy of products through chemical testing, cell cultures, and computational models, and have been promoted by international organizations such as the OECD and the FDA.
The scientific community's growing interest in training based on the 3R principles reflects a growing commitment to more ethical and rigorous practices. In Latin America, these advances are reflected in the work of laboratories that develop and apply models such as reconstructed human skin and cornea to assess the irritation and corrosiveness of substances.
This situation also responds to a social demand for cruelty-free products, along with the need for methods that are more efficient, reproducible, and aligned with international standards. In this context, the Te Protejo research team developed an interactive map that lists laboratories in Latin America that use alternative methods, with the goal of making them more accessible to the cosmetics and personal care industry.
In this study, Brazil stood out as a leader in the development of alternative methods, with at least eight laboratories, a National Network for Alternative Methods (RENAMA), and a Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (BraCVAM). Argentina follows with the CLAIM® center, a pioneer in the country in the use of alternative methods since 1999—work that has helped build a scientific foundation that has benefited the entire region—followed by LMA and Bio Fucal, then Mexico with laboratories such as LIALT and ILAB, and finally Chile with the Functional Life, Luyef, and Rubisco Biotechnology centers.
These centers have successfully adapted cutting-edge models using Latin American technologies and have chosen to embrace a culture of care and technical responsibility. This map is based on documentary research and direct contact with researchers, so that the community can explore which methods are available and which laboratories are developing them. Strengthening and raising the profile of their work involves advancing research that is contextualized within the Latin American reality and aligned with our health and social priorities. It also helps identify tests that could be complemented or validated, thereby reducing costs, improving regulatory compliance, and paving the way for locally backed certifications—all of which strengthen consumer confidence. This mapping initiative is an invitation to strengthen the Latin American scientific community. If your laboratory offers alternative tests, contact us and be part of this change.
Image by Depositphotos
References
1. European Parliament and Council. (2009). Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32009R1223
2. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2021). Guidance Document on Good In Vitro Method Practices (GIVIMP). OECD Series on Testing and Assessment, No. 286. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2018/12/guidance-document-on-good-in-vitro-method-practices-givimp_g1g938a9/9789264304796-en.pdf.
3. Fiona Sewell, Camilla Alexander-White, Susy Brescia, Richard A. Currie, Ruth Roberts, Clive Roper, Catherine Vickers, Carl Westmoreland, Ian Kimber, “New Approach Methodologies (NAMs): Identifying and Overcoming Hurdles to Accelerated Adoption,” *Toxicology Research*, Volume 13, Issue 2, April 2024, tfae044, https://doi.org/10.1093/toxres/tfae044.
4. EURL ECVAM. (2023). Dataset on Alternative Methods to Animal Experimentation (DB-ALM). https://ecvam-dbalm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
