Application of in vitro-in silico Approaches in Toxicology, Safety Assessment and Regulation

During the Week of July 12th-14th I had the privilege to attend the revolutionary conference at The Searle Conference Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

The Organizing Committee was:

• Christine Hendren (DUKE/CEINT)
• Barry Hardy (Douglas Connect)
• Eileen Kramer (DUKE/CEINT)
• Noffisat Oki (Douglas Connect)

The Conference Chairs were:

• Antony Williams (US EPA)
• Richard Paules (NTP/NIEHS)
• Stacey Harper (OSU)
• Nicole Kleinstreuer (NTP/NIEHS)
• Stephen Edwards (US EPA)

Poster Abstracts were covered during the session in addition to the research and innovative driven topics. Additionally, over a dozen of the leading toxicologist in the United States and in the world presented.

Data-driven development of AOP knowledge

The presenting author for one innovative session at the conference was Stephen Edwards, a Systems Biologist within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (EPA-NHEERL). His presentation was on the Adverse Outcome Pathway framework, which represents a systematic way to organize mechanistic information underlying toxicology. This framework is specifically designed to connect early stage molecular perturbations by chemicals and other stressors with adverse outcomes in humans and wildlife.

OpenTox Membership

As a new OpenTox member, I encourage you to join and to enjoy the open resources and benefits. Additionally, OpenTox members are all here to support each other in our everyday work, with expert knowledge, competent services and a broad network.

The OpenTox Association is a community which has arisen from the ideas and concepts developed by the OpenTox project.  The association’s purpose is to create a visible, non-profit focal point for everything related to OpenTox and open source computational toxicology.  

Now that I am a member, I encourage you to participate in any way you choose, meaning you can simply benefit by learning from other members or you can actively collaborate and lead discussions, participate in organizing a local chapter activity, case study development or workshop initiative. The organization particularly welcomes and encourages members to contact OpenTox to discuss assuming a role and responsibility as an active member.
 
I recommend any individual who want to take an active role in changing the landscape of occupational toxicology in the United States to become active members of the OpenTox Affiliation.