Artificial intelligence (AI)—it’s the end of the tox as we know it (and I feel fine)*

Archives of Toxicology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 98(3), P. 735 - 754

Published: Jan. 20, 2024

The rapid progress of AI impacts diverse scientific disciplines, including toxicology, and has the potential to transform chemical safety evaluation. Toxicology evolved from an empirical science focused on observing apical outcomes exposure, a data-rich field ripe for integration. volume, variety velocity toxicological data legacy studies, literature, high-throughput assays, sensor technologies omics approaches create opportunities but also complexities that can help address. In particular, machine learning is well suited handle integrate large, heterogeneous datasets are both structured unstructured-a key challenge in modern toxicology. methods like deep neural networks, large language models, natural processing have successfully predicted toxicity endpoints, analyzed data, extracted facts generated synthetic data. Beyond automating capture, analysis, prediction, techniques show promise accelerating quantitative risk assessment by providing probabilistic outputs capture uncertainties. enables explanation unravel mechanisms increase trust modeled predictions. However, issues model interpretability, biases, transparency currently limit regulatory endorsement AI. Multidisciplinary collaboration needed ensure development interpretable, robust, human-centered systems. Rather than just human tasks at scale, transformative catalyze innovation how evidence gathered, generated, hypotheses formed tested, performed usher new paradigms assessment. Used judiciously, immense advance toxicology into more predictive, mechanism-based, evidence-integrated discipline better safeguard environmental wellbeing across populations.

Language: Английский

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Metabolomics in Preclinical Drug Safety Assessment: Current Status and Future Trends

Metabolites, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 98 - 98

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Metabolomics is emerging as a powerful systems biology approach for improving preclinical drug safety assessment. This review discusses current applications and future trends of metabolomics in toxicology development. can elucidate adverse outcome pathways by detecting endogenous biochemical alterations underlying toxicity mechanisms. Furthermore, enables better characterization human environmental exposures their influence on disease pathogenesis. approaches are being increasingly incorporated into studies pharmacology evaluations to gain mechanistic insights identify early biomarkers toxicity. However, realizing the full potential regulatory decision making requires robust demonstration reliability through quality assurance practices, reference materials, interlaboratory studies. Overall, shows great promise strengthening understanding toxicity, enhancing routine screening, transforming exposure risk assessment paradigms. Integration with computational, vitro, personalized medicine innovations will shape predictive toxicology.

Language: Английский

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Editorial: Leveraging artificial intelligence and open science for toxicological risk assessment

Frontiers in Toxicology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

The paradigm shift brought about by artificial intelligence (AI) across scientific disciplines has been nothing short of revolutionary. From unraveling the mysteries protein folding to enabling autonomous systems, AI demonstrated its potential tackle previously intractable problems (Jumper et. al., 2021;Abramoff et 2023). In toxicology, this transformation arrives at a crucial moment, as we face mounting challenges in chemical safety assessment and an urgent need reduce reliance on animal testing (Hartung, 2023a,b;Kleinstreuer Hartung, 2024). This Research Topic emerged from recognition that while computational toxicology made significant strides using classical approaches such physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR), full modern techniques remains largely untapped toxicological risk assessment. recent advances machine learning, particularly deep natural language processing, semantic interoperability, offer unprecedented opportunities integrate diverse data sources create more predictive models for human health outcomes.The five contributions showcase innovative bridge traditional methods with cutting-edge applications. Collectively, these works demonstrate enhance our understanding hazards advancing development efficient, ethical, human-relevant strategies.Instability" review highlights AI/ML OMICS technologies transform assessments predict genotoxicity mutagenicity higher accuracy. It discusses how can establish biomarkers signatures early cancer detection, assessment, monitoring impacts exposure. Additionally, it emphasizes may accelerate screening chemicals evaluation, optimizing resource use, reducing testing. A common thread throughout is emphasis open science principles reproducibility. authors have shared their code, data, methodologies through public repositories, others build upon work. commitment transparency collaboration exemplifies bringing not only problem-solving but also way conduct share research.Looking ahead, several emerge works. First, shows promise predicting endpoints, integrating predictions into regulatory frameworks hurdle (Hartung Kleinstreuer, 2025).Second, quality accessibility training continue be limiting factors developing robust models. Finally, there pressing standardized validate AI-driven toxicology.Nevertheless, presented are moving closer establishing true probabilistic framework (Maertens 2022(Maertens , 2024) incorporates AI. Such could provide accurate effects.The integration multiple streams -from structures historical vitro assays, omics measurements -through represents promising path forward.We hope will serve both inspiration practical researchers working intersection toxicology. As advance methods, move

Language: Английский

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Alternative methods go green! Green toxicology as a sustainable approach for assessing chemical safety and designing safer chemicals

ALTEX, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 41(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Green toxicology is marching chemistry into the 21st century. This emerging framework will transform how chemical safety evaluated by incorporating evaluation of hazards, exposures, and risks associated with chemicals early product development in a way that minimizes adverse impacts on human environmental health. The goal to minimize toxic threats across entire supply chains through smarter designs policies. Traditional animal testing methods are replaced faster, cutting-edge innovations like organs-on-chips artificial intelligence predictive models also more cost-effective. Core principles green include utilizing alternative test methods, applying precautionary principle, considering lifetime impacts, emphasizing risk prevention over reaction. paper provides an overview these foundational concepts describes current initiatives future opportunities advance adoption approaches. Chal­lenges limitations discussed. shoots governments offering carrots European Deal nudge industry. Noteworthy, rights environ­mental groups have different ideas about needs for their consequences use. represents forward support both societal sufficient throughput relevance hazard information minimal suffering. toxi­cology thus sets stage synergize health ecological values. Overall, integration has potential profoundly shift managed achieve goals ethical, ecologically-conscious manner. Plain language summary aims make safer design. It focuses preventing toxicity issues during instead after products developed. uses modern non-animal computer lab tests cells predict if chem­icals could be hazardous. Benefits faster results, lower costs, less testing. using tests, caution even uncertain data, con­sidering global chains, article highlights US policy efforts spur sustainable innovation which necessitate greener approaches assess new materials drive adoption. seeks integrate design so valued equally functionality profit. alignment promises safer, ethical but faces chal­lenges around validating overcoming institutional resistance change.

Language: Английский

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Revolutionizing developmental neurotoxicity testing – a journey from animal models to advanced in vitro systems

ALTEX, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing has seen enormous progress over the last two decades. Preceding even publication of animal-based OECD test guideline for DNT in 2007, a series non-animal technology workshops and conferences (starting 2005) shaped community that delivered comprehensive battery vitro methods (IVB). Its data interpretation is covered by very recent guidance (No. 377). Here, we aim to overview field, focusing on evolution strategies, role emerging technologies, impact guidelines testing. In particular, this an example targeted development animal-free approach one most complex hazards chemicals human health. These developments started literally from blank slate, with no proposed alternative available. Over decades, cutting-edge science enabled design spares animals enables throughput challenging hazard. While it evident field needs regulation, massive economic decreased cognitive capacity caused chemical exposure should be prioritized more highly. Beyond this, claim fame scientific brought understanding brain, its development, how can perturbed. Plain language summaryDevelopmental predicts hazard brain development. Comprehensive advanced strategies using now replace approaches assess large numbers accurately efficiently than approach. Recent formalized DNT, marking pivotal achievement field. The shift towards reflects both commitment animal welfare growing recognition public health impacts associated impaired function exposures. innovations ultimately contribute safer management better protection health, especially during vulnerable stages

Language: Английский

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4.2 million and counting… The animal toll for REACH systemic toxicity studies

ALTEX, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

The EU's chemicals regulation, REACH, requires that most in the EU be evaluated for human health and ecosystem risks, with a mandate to minimize use of animal tests these evaluations. REACH process has been ongoing since about 2008, but calculation resulting is not publicly available. For this reason, we have undertaken count animals used REACH. With legislators set consider revisions could expand testing, are releasing results test categories counted date: reproductive toxicity tests, developmental repeat-ed-dose health. total as December 2022 2.9 million. Additional involving 1.3 million currently required by final proposal authorization or compliance check yet completed. total, 4.2 million, just three exceeds original European Com-mission forecast 2.6 all tests. difference primarily because Commission estimate excluded offspring, which Other reasons extra included ensure sufficient survive meet minimum requirement; dose range-finding tests; groups, e.g., recovery analysis; high rejection rate read-across studies. Given higher than use, upcoming debate on proposed an opportunity refocus reducing numbers keeping mandate.

Language: Английский

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Developing a pragmatic consensus procedure supporting the ICH S1B(R1) weight of evidence carcinogenicity assessment

Frontiers in Toxicology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: April 5, 2024

The ICH S1B carcinogenicity global testing guideline has been recently revised with a novel addendum that describes comprehensive integrated Weight of Evidence (WoE) approach to determine the need for 2-year rat study. In present work, experts from different organizations have joined efforts standardize as much possible procedural framework integration evidence associated S1B(R1) WoE criteria. uses pragmatic consensus procedure hazard assessment facilitate transparent, consistent, and documented decision-making it discusses best-practices both organization studies presentation data in format suitable regulatory review. First, is acknowledged six factors described form an network within holistic used synergistically analyze explain safety signals. Second, proposed standardized builds upon considerations related primary sources evidence, mechanistic analysis, alternative methodologies investigative approaches, metabolites, reliability other acquired information. Each highlighting how they can contribute overall assessment. A suggested reporting summarize cross-integration also presented. This work notes even if study ultimately required, creating valuable understanding specific levels human carcinogenic risk better than identified previously bioassay alone.

Language: Английский

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Investigating the applicability domain of the hiPSC-based PluriLum assay: an embryotoxicity assessment of chemicals and drugs

Archives of Toxicology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 98(4), P. 1209 - 1224

Published: Feb. 4, 2024

Abstract To meet the growing demand for developmental toxicity assessment of chemicals, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are needed. Previously, we developed two 3D in vitro assays based on human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and cardiomyocyte differentiation: PluriBeat assay, beating differentiated embryoid bodies, PluriLum a reporter gene assay expression early cardiac marker NKX2.5 ; both promising predicting embryotoxic effects chemicals drugs. In this work, aimed to further describe predictive power compare its sensitivity with similar human cell-based by others. For purpose, assessed panel ten from different chemical classes, consisting known toxicants 5-fluorouracil, all- trans retinoic acid valproic acid, as well negative control compounds ascorbic folic acid. addition, fungicides epoxiconazole prochloraz, three perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), PFOS, PFOA GenX were tested. Generally, displayed higher when compared assay. several luminescence readout showed not detected including PFAS fungicides. Overall, find that has potential provide fast objective detection level is comparable or than other also differentiation toxicity.

Language: Английский

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Green Toxicology

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The last resort requirement under REACH: From principle to practice

Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 147, P. 105557 - 105557

Published: Dec. 23, 2023

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is a European Union regulation that aims to protect human health the environment from risks posed by chemicals. Article 25 clearly states that: "[i]n order avoid animal testing, testing on vertebrate animals for purposes this Regulation shall be undertaken only as last resort." In practice, however, standard information requirements under are still primarily filled using studies. This paper presents examples illustrating not always resort. Six over-arching issues have been identified which contribute this: (1) non-acceptance existing or non-animal data, (2) read-across, (3) inflexible administrative processes, (4) redundancy (5) despite welfare concerns (6) cosmetic-only ingredients. We, members Animal-Free Safety Assessment (AFSA) Collaboration, who work together accelerate global adoption approaches chemical safety assessment, herein propose several recommendations intended aid Commission, Chemicals Agency registrants while avoiding unnecessary tests - truly upholding resort requirement in REACH.

Language: Английский

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