ONTOX project – interview by TOXstreams

00:224 months ago

Have you ever wondered how one can actually develop a new approach method (NAM) to replace animal testing in toxicology? The ONTOX project is creating not just one but six different NAMs. Indeed, this EU-funded project is focused on building NAMs to study repeated dose toxicity effects, an area of toxicology that still relies heavily on animal testing. Prof. Mathieu Vinken, the project’s coordinator, Jian Jiang, PhD, Anouk Verhoeven and Jonas van Ertvelde explain their work to TOXstreams. Click on the link in the video to watch the full episode.

Related

The NAM Navigator: A unique repository for information on the validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicology

The NAM Navigator: A unique repository for information on the validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies

The NAM navigator is an innovative knowledge portal to navigate you to and through valuable information on the development, standardization, validation and acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAM). The NAM Navigator acts as an online guide that provides specific information needed in each of these steps, thereby increasing the broad use of animal-free innovations. Follow the link in the video to start navigating!
02:136 days ago
VHP4Safety project
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicologyIn vitroIn silico

VHP4Safety project

The safety testing of chemicals and pharmaceuticals traditionally relies on animal studies. However, these raise ethical concerns and often fail to accurately predict human responses. New scientific developments offer opportunities to build a Virtual Human Platform (VHP) for safety assessment, a platform that enables assessment based solely on human physiology and biology, integrating data from in vitro and in silico models. This video explains how we are developing the VHP through an interdisciplinary approach. Read the paper in the videolink or visit or VHP4Safety (https://vhp4safety.nl/) for more information.
03:1612 days ago
AI agents for safer science: How AI is Changing Chemical Risk Assessment
Innovation examples
HealthToxicologyIn silico

AI agents for safer science: How AI is Changing Chemical Risk Assessment

This video introduces a novel approach to chemical safety, where intelligent digital agents guided by large language models support scientists in making faster, more transparent decisions. By automating complex workflows and integrating tools like the OECD QSAR Toolbox, these agentic systems help prioritise research, reduce reliance on animal testing, and pave the way for safer, more sustainable innovation.
02:5621 days ago
User Research in developing the virtual human platform
Innovation examples
ToxicologyPolicy

User Research in developing the virtual human platform

Digital tools can support the phasing out of animal-based tests and data in chemical risk assessment. This is one of the core promises of the Virtual Human Platform. The potential contribution of digitalization is linked to the acceptance and adoption of tools, methods, and data by stakeholders in several societal sectors. To facilitate the integration of stakeholders in the configuration of digital tools, Dr. Isaac Ortega Alvarado and colleagues gather insights from risk assessors in their role as users. Risk assessors are the ones who actualize chemical risk assessment and its standards through their practices. With this perspective, this research contributes to understanding the development and implementation of digital tools as embedded in social processes of construction and reception.
01:1543 days ago