The European trade association for the cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery industries has pledged €2.5 million over three years to fund the research, calling for applications to be submitted before 15 January 2008.
In particular, the association is calling for research into chemical induced skin sensitivity - the potential for certain chemicals to illicit allergic responses on contact with the skin.
The body hoped to attract proposals that might lead to in-vitro models based on human skin that could predict the potential of a future ingredient to induce an allergic response (allergic contact dermatitis) in consumers.
The move comes as a response to a larger regulatory framework, REACH, which has put a ban on the testing of cosmetics ingredients on animals after 2009.
At present certain advances have been made, for example Episkin from L'Oreal and Skin ethic, which is a test for the potential irritancy of an ingredient that was validated for use as alternative to animal testing earlier this year. However considerable work needs to be done if animal testing is to be eradicated by this date.
"Animal testing will be replaced by a portfolio of tests" Monique Marrec-Fairley of Colipa told CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com. The decision from Colipa to concentrate on chemical induced sensitisation stemmed from the identification of certain gaps and weaknesses in the portfolio, Marrec-Fairley explained.
Currently, little is known about the mechanism through which chemical allergens induce allergic contact dermatitis in humans. Research is focusing on the effect the allergens have on dendritic cells - cells of the body's immune system - in the hope that one day these cells may be incorporated into a predictive test for assessing a chemical's allergenic potential.
However, little is known about the mechanism that lies behind the changes to
dendritic cells caused by the allergen, and Colipa is calling for research proposals that may shed light on the system.
The deadline for applications in 15 January 2008, and proposals must be no longer than 4000 words, the body says.
Colipa is currently funding other programmes of skin sensitisation research and is a member of a wider project, Sens-it-iv, which aims to develop and optimize in-vitro tests to replace animal testing.
The EU funded project, founded in 2005, has members from both the private and public sector, as well as industrial and societal interest groups.
