Innovative tools and methods for toxicity testing within PARC work package 5 on hazard assessment

Area of Science:

• Toxicology and Risk Assessment
• Chemical Safety
• Regulatory Science

Background:

• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) offer potential for regulatory risk assessment but face implementation challenges.
• The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) initiative aims to overcome these challenges.
• PARC's structure facilitates alignment between research and regulatory needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of projects within PARC's Work Package 5, Task 5.2, focusing on innovative tools for human health toxicity testing.
• To address critical regulatory data gaps in key toxicological endpoints.
• To support the transition towards mechanistic-based NAMs testing strategies.

Main Methods:

• Overview of five main projects within PARC's Task 5.2.
• Focus on leveraging OECD's and PARC's Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) frameworks.
• Development of innovative methodologies for chemical hazard identification and risk assessment.

Main Results:

• Bridging data gaps for prioritized toxicological endpoints including carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, endocrine and metabolic disruption, and neurotoxicity.
• Developing relevant, affordable, and reliable assessment tools for regulatory risk assessors and industry.
• Facilitating the development and implementation of NAMs in regulatory contexts.

Conclusions:

• PARC's initiatives are crucial for advancing the application of NAMs in chemical risk assessment.
• The developed tools and methods will support regulatory decision-making and the adoption of next-generation risk assessment (NGRA).
• This work contributes to a global shift towards more efficient and ethical toxicity testing strategies.