The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is an academic center affiliated with the Division of Toxicological Sciences in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Research Grants 1986-1987

Detection of Potential Inflammatory Agents

Sharon S. Krag, PhD
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland

Krag has already used CAAT funding to develop an in vitro method of detecting the release of certain enzymes in response to irritants applied to cells called fibroblasts. These enzymes can damage the skin and may play an important role in the irritation process when fibroblasts in the skin are exposed to toxic chemicals. Krag will further study this enzyme release and its possible role in irritation. The work could lead to an alternative to the Draize skin test.