Omics and Risk Assessment Science

Omics and Risk Assessment Science

25-26 February 2013, Malaga (Spain)

Background

Two previous ECETOC workshops on "The Application of “Omics Technologies in Toxicology and Ecotoxicology: Case Studies and Risk Assessment“ took place in 2007 and 2010, the results being published in ECETOC Workshop reports 11 and 19 respectively. The workshop‘s main recommendations were:

1. to conduct studies in a more standardised form using reference chemicals
2. to obtain a common and agreed definition of what constitutes a toxicologically relevant biochemical pathway
3. to study the toxicity dose and time dependent transition on relevant biochemical pathways from normal variability through adaptive response, to adverse effect.

Further suggestions made by the workshop participants were related to the gathering together of appropriate experts to help in the interpretation of data from “omics studies as well as the formation of working groups.

Although the last workshop took place less than three years ago, there have been significant developments within the “omics sciences. The number of case studies available is far larger than three years ago, and some experiences concerning the regulatory use of “omics data (e.g. to demonstrate a mode of action / toxicological mechanism) have been obtained by companies. Moreover, it seems appropriate to address the question which of the recommendations were actually taken up by scientists in the field and if the recommendations need to be developed and progressed further.

Objectives of the Workshop

The aim of the workshop is to review the progress made on the application of “omics technologies to chemical safety and assess the potential impact of these new technologies on the risk assessment of chemical substances.

In particular the workshop will address the following points:

1. Case studies of the application of “omics data for risk assessment & regulatory (eco)toxicology.
2. Guidance to help to increase the intrinsic value of “omics data and stimulate its use in (eco)toxicology.
3. Impact of “omics sciences on the risk assessment process.
4. Can “omics data contribute to the elucidation of (1) life stage / subpopulation sensitivity, (2) low dose effects and (3) the effects of mixtures.

The workshop is limited to participation by selected industry experts and invited external scientists.

Scientific Secretary to the workshop: Malyka Galay-Burgos