Table 2.

Searching parameters, defined key terms used in research

Main searching categories	Searching subcategories (key terms)
Regulatory toxicology	Working areas of regulatory toxicology; drug regulatory agencies by countries*; Website of MHRA, WHO, EMA and ICH; procedure guidelines; pharmacology; pharmaceuticals
Drug regulatory toxicology requirements	Toxicity testing in drug regulation; ICH guidelines; clinical trial requirements; acute toxicity studies; sub-chronic studies; mutagenicity studies, carcinogenicity studies; teratogenicity studies; reproductive studies; in vitro studies and toxicity testing in drug regulation; in vivo studies and toxicity testing in drug regulation; phototoxicity; immunotoxicity
Alternatives for animal-based toxicity testing	History of 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement of animals); use of animals in toxicity testing for human pharmaceuticals; non-clinical safety evaluation; initiatives, programmes and projects
Novel technologies in toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals	In silico toxicity testing for human medicines; microphysiological systems; OOC technologies, ‘-omics’ technologies; biomedical microelectromechanical systems; microfluidics; biomimetics; computational modelling

Search was conducted by using key terms in selected databases and information sources.