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Community-Engaged Research and the Use of Open Access ToxVal/ToxRef In Vivo Databases and New Approach Methodologies
Marilyn Silva1, Shosha Capps2, Jonathan K London3
1Co-Chair Community Stakeholders' Advisory Committee, University of California (UC Davis), Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC), Davis, California, USA.
Birth Defects Research
|September 12, 2024
Summary
This study explores integrating open-access resources and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into Community Engaged Research (CEnR). These tools help prioritize chemical toxicity, inform regulatory decisions, and advance environmental justice.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Toxicology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Analysis of integrating open-access resources like Abstract Sifter, US EPA NTP Toxicity Value and Toxicity Reference Database (ToxVal/ToxRefDB) with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
- Focus on the application of these integrated resources within Community Engaged Research (CEnR) frameworks.
- Exploration of opportunities for enhancing CEnR through advanced data and methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the practical application of integrated open-access chemical databases and NAMs in Community Engaged Research (CEnR) pilot projects.
- To showcase how these resources can be utilized to address specific environmental health concerns identified by communities.
- To evaluate the potential of these tools in risk assessment and policy development for environmental toxins.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard and Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) databases, incorporating both in vivo (ToxVal/ToxRef) and in vitro (NAMs) data.
- Presented three case studies from the University of California, Davis, Environmental Health Sciences Center's CEnR pilot projects.
- Employed open-access NAMs and computational tools for hazard identification and risk prioritization.
Main Results:
- Case #1: Development of a novel assay for pesticide toxicity testing.
- Case #2: Detection of water contaminants from wildfire ash, including metals, PAHs, and PFAS.
- Case #3: Investigation of contaminants on Tribal Lands, utilizing regulatory data and NAMs for risk screening and prioritizing environmental toxins.
- Demonstrated the use of NAMs to predict biological activity and compare with regulatory values for hazard identification.
- Showcased the application of Systematic Empirical Evaluation of Models and biomonitoring for human subpopulations to determine bioactivity to exposure ratios.
Conclusions:
- The integrated resources effectively prioritize chemical toxicity, aiding regulatory decisions and health-protective policies.
- These tools provide valuable insights into exposure risks, supporting environmental justice and health equity initiatives.
- Stakeholders can leverage these resources to guide research priorities and inform mitigation strategies for environmental contaminants.
