HESI Global committees will be attending the SOT 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.
Society of Toxicology 2026 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo
March 22, 2026 – March 25, 2026
San Diego, CA, USA
The mission of HESI’s Emerging Systems Toxicology for the Assessment of Risk (eSTAR) Committee is to develop and deliver innovative systems toxicology approaches for risk assessment. The committee aims to catalyze adoption of new translational and predictive tools that guide decision-making based on mechanistic understanding of toxicological response.
This project is developing transcriptomic-based biomarkers that will be predictive of particular molecular initiating events leading to rat liver tumors. The group has also launched an experimental study in wildtype & knockout rats for molecular initiating events.
This Consortium has initiated the design and implementation of a pioneering experimental study to advance integration of in vitro ‘omics approaches (Cell Painting, transcriptomics, and proteomics) into safety evaluation. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) grant has been awarded to our nonprofit partner, the Broad Institute, at $1,000,000! Matched with contributions from our 16 industry partners, we expect a total project budget of approximately $4.2 million.
This group is exploring the use of error corrected sequencing to identify non-genotoxic tumorigenic agents in rodents. An inventory of samples from members was compiled that can be used to measure cancer driver genes. A pilot study has been completed comparing study designs to detect clonal expansion.
This team designed a study looking at the effect of different nephrotoxicants on multiple miRNAs using an in vitro model for proximal tubule cells. They also conducted a multi-site experimental program on the use of exosomal miRNAs expressed in response to renal toxicants; manuscript published in 2024.
This group was awarded a $250,000 USD grant (U01) as part of the US FDA’s Biomarker Qualification Program in 2022. This funding was partnered with Committee resources to support a four-site ring trial generating additional data on the TGx-DDI biomarker. Submission package is being prepared for qualification and the group is exploring other opportunities such as the OECD Test Guideline process.
Learn more about the use of the TGx-DDI transcriptomic biomarker for the genotoxicity assessment of data-poor chemicals here (poster presented at the 2021 EMGS Virtual Annual Meeting by Anne-Marie Fortin, University of Ottawa).
This Working Group has compiled a broad membership of experts across sectors and chemical classes to write a recently accepted manuscript on the state of the science on the use and potential applications of transcriptomic PODs. Future work will include discussion of bioinformatic methods to derive transcriptomic PODs.
FFPE Project: A manuscript on DNA de-modification analysis of clinical tumor samples was accepted; the project will sunset after an educational webinar.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Syngenta
March 22, 2026 – March 25, 2026
San Diego, CA, USA
HESI Global committees will be attending the SOT 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.
Toxicology, 2015
Recent technological advances have led to rapid progress in the characterization of epigenetic modifications that control gene expression in a generally heritable way, and are likely involved in defining cellular phenotypes, developmental stages and disease status from one generation to the next.
Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 2012
The use of gene expression profiling in both clinical and laboratory settings would be enhanced by better characterization of variation due to individual, environmental, and technical factors.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2010
In spite of the application of toxicogenomic (TGx) data to the field of toxicology for the past 10 years, the broad implementation and full impact of TGx for chemical and drug evaluation to improve decision making within organizations and by policy makers has not been achieved.
2009
This book chapter was published in Batch Effects and Noise in Microarray Experiments: Sources and Solutions.
BMC Genomics, 2008
The use of gene expression profiling in both clinical and laboratory settings would be enhanced by better characterization of variance due to individual, environmental, and technical factors.
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 2005
The multi-lab International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) project on the application of genomics to risk assessment offered the unique opportunity to investigate the influence of variability within and between laboratories on identifying biologically relevant gene expression changes.
The Emerging Systems Toxicology for the Assessment of Risk (eSTAR) Committee is part of the Center for Translational Sciences. This HESI Center serves as a focal point for staff to share strategic approaches, scientific developments, management best practices and innovations with other related HESI committees.
Other Committees in the Center for Translational Sciences are:
For questions about the Center contact:
hesi@hesiglobal.org
Phone: +1-202-659-8404
Fax: +1-202-659-8403
740 15th Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
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