Virtual Control Groups & Virtual Omics Controls: Reducing Animal Use Without Sacrificing Rigor

Registration is required for this free webinar 

Hosted by the SOT Computational Toxicology Specialty Section 

The first presentation will explore the concept and implementation of Virtual Control Groups (VCGs) in nonclinical toxicology studies, emphasizing their potential to reduce animal use by leveraging advanced analytics and high-quality databases. It will discuss the challenges and prerequisites for VCG adoption, including the need for robust data curation, careful selection of covariates, and formal qualification for regulatory acceptance. Key take-home messages will highlight the importance of mitigating variability, ensuring data integrity, and considering hybrid designs that combine virtual and actual controls to address scientific and procedural challenges. 

The second presentation is centered around the fact that selecting species as controls for omics analysis is a meticulous task that requires consideration of multiple variables beyond standard matching, such as sequencing kits and other technical factors. In this study, we explore methods to address these practical challenges by establishing and utilizing virtual omics controls in preclinical species, while also defining the associated limitations. 

Speakers 

Xavier Palazzi, DVM, ECVP, MSc, Head of Pathology, AstraZeneca 

Richard Virgen-Slane, PhD, Principal Computational Toxicologist, Pfizer