If you suspect poisoning, contact Tox Info Suisse

24-hour emergency number Tel 145

(from abroad: +41 44 251 51 51)

WE ADVISE AUTHORITIES, PROMOTE RESEARCH, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING METHODOLOGIES IN HUMAN TOXICOLOGY

The regulatory toxicologists at the SCAHT provide scientific expertise to support authorities in their risk assessment, management and communication activities. The Centre provides a link between researchers and regulators, helping to translate complex research findings into practical recommendations, measures and policies. SCAHT contributes to the regulatory use of established and new methods, such as in vivo, in vitro and in silico approaches, to tackle new challenges and generate human-relevant and mechanistic insights.

The SCAHT’s research aims to fill an existing gap in Switzerland between academic scientific research and regulatory application. Priority is given to major human health problems of regulatory concern, and projects are conducted within the framework of a coordinated research programme. SCAHT participates in national and international research programs, projects and initiatives.

SCAHT’s education and training programme is designed to meet the diverse needs of graduate and continuing education for academia, regulatory agencies and industry. This includes the coordination of training for Swiss authorities and international actors. It also leads outreach initiatives to foster dialogue among scientists, regulators and the public.

About Us

The Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT) is a national competence centre for regulatory toxicology based in Basel.

Our mission is to contribute to a safer and healthier environment by advancing the science of human toxicology and translating it for regulatory use to benefit society. The SCAHT does this through providing scientific expertise to regulatory toxicology and linking researchers and regulators to translate complex research into practical recommendations, measures and policies covering risk assessment, management and communciation.

SCAHT is funded by the Swiss Confederation and supported by the Universities of Basel, Geneva, Lausanne and the FHNW School of Lif Sciences. It collaborates closely with Swiss and international higher education and research institutions, the Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology (Ecotox Centre) and the national and cantonal authorities.

More information can be found here:

Foundation Council

Management Board and Director

Research Group Leader Committee

Science Advisory Board

Auditors

Following an application by Prof. Denis Hochstrasser (University of Geneva) and Prof. Stephan Krähenbühl (University of Basel), the SCAHT was founded in 2009 to address gaps in applied toxicology research, consultation services, and training in Switzerland after the closure of the Swiss Institute of Toxicology. Financial support was provided by the Swiss Confederation with in-kind contributions from the Universities of Basel, Geneva and Lausanne.

In its first funding period (2009-2012), SCAHT consolidated its role as a national hub for human toxicology and risk assessment and strengthened Swiss presence in international toxicology under the founding Director Prof. Martin Wilks. In 2012, it was decided to form a foundation hosted by the University of Geneva, which was officially registered in 2014. SCAHT celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019, and in 2020 the FHNW School of Life Sciences joined as a partner organisation.

Under the new director Prof. Ellen Fritsche, the centre continues to expand its national and international research networks, education programmes, and its contributions to regulatory toxicology. Particularly, SCAHT is committed to bring the newest developments in toxicology into regulatory practice.