HESI Insights - January 2023

Within the HESI Annual Report, you’ll find summaries of each program’s accomplishments over the past year, their goals for 2023, an overview of HESI training opportunities and updates on new HESI special programs, Health DataWell and the Global Risk Assessment Training Center (GRATC). Click here to read the full report.

Effective January 1, 2023, HESI Executive Director, Dr. Syril Pettit, will join the Virginia Public Health Association (VPHA) Board of Directors. VPHA’s mission is to strengthen public health practice, foster health equity, and promote sound public health policy.

I’m excited to continue my efforts with the dedicated public health professionals at VPHA in this new capacity. VPHA is going through a rejuvenation and I look forward to collaborating with the Board to advance equitable health and well-being in Virginia and beyond. – Dr. Syril Pettit

Congratulations Syril!

The SETAC World Council has selected HESI Deputy Director, Dr. Michelle Embry, to serve on the SETAC Panel on Chemicals Management (SETAC CheM Panel). Dr. Embry will be one of 9 panel members to support the SETAC Spokesperson at the UNEP Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG)  tasked with informing the development of a Science-Policy Panel for the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste to Prevent Pollution. More information is available HERE.

I am honored to be able to work with my global colleagues via SETAC and help to inform the development of such an important science-policy panel within the United Nations Environment Program. – Michelle Embry

Congratulations Michelle!

HESI Committees are committed to providing relevant training and networking opportunities to the next generation of translational scientists. The ongoing opportunities available to trainees of all levels (undergraduate, MS, PhD, postdoc, and early career scientist) are highlighted on our new “HESI Trainee Initiatives” webpage HERE.

The HESI GTTC is pleased to share its newest publication, “Error-corrected next-generation sequencing to advance nonclinical genotoxicity and carcinogenicity testing,” published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. The commentary highlights the potential applications, advantages and challenges associated with implementing this emerging technology in nonclinical safety studies.

The article will be open access until 25 January 2023.

Read full article here:
Error-corrected next-generation sequencing to advance nonclinical genotoxicity and carcinogenicity testing. Marchetti et al. Nature Drug Discovery (January 2023). https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-023-00014-y

The Beal et al. (2023) paper is the first of many to come as output of GTTC’s In Vitro Working Group (WG) first phase of efforts towards critically evaluating NAMs for in vitro genotoxicity testing. The WG is also evaluating NAMS through the lens of exposure, metabolism, indirect genotoxicity and the identification of aneugens. This paper provides additional confidence in the use of IVIVE for deriving points of departure (PODs), showing that in vitro PODs are health protective relative to in vivo PODs.

Read the full article here:
Quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of genotoxicity data provides protective estimates of in vivo dose. Beal et al. (2023) Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22521

Learn more about the HESI Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee

The GTTC’s Quantitative Analysis Workgroup recent publication focuses on the quantitative relationships between carcinogenic potency and mutagenic potency. The group built off the previous benchmark dose (BMD)-based approach by analyzing the carcinogenicity-derived and genotoxicity-derived margin of exposure values (MOEs) from human exposure data of 48 compounds. The findings showed that regulatory decisions based on in vivo genotoxicity dose–response data would be consistent with those based on carcinogenicity dose–response data. Hence in the future, and in the absence of carcinogenicity data, using the in vivo genotoxicity assays could be used to prioritize substances for risk management.

Read the full article:
Establishing a Quantitative Framework for Regulatory Interpretation of Genetic Toxicity Dose-Response Data: MOE (Margin of Exposure) Case Study of 48 Compounds with both in vivo Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity Dose-Response Data. Chepelev et al. (2022) Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22517

Learn more about the HESI Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee

The HESI Board of Trustees met in-person on January 17th and 18th to review 2022 achievements and HESI scientific portfolio, approve a 2023 organizational budget, progress the strategic initiatives and conduct a mini-retreat on Board engagement.

HESI is currently achieving a breadth of reach and impact unlike any prior time in its organizational history. Dr. Syril Pettit, HESI Executive Director, pointed to the organization’s ability to set and then achieve goals as evidenced by the significant and rapid progress HESI has made in gaining grant funding, launching new Board-authorized strategic initiatives, and expanding its global reach via programs and membership. She concluded that, via the people who comprise HESI’s Board, staff, and programs, HESI has the opportunity to even further advance the public health impact of HESI’s portfolio.

HESI’s Board of Trustees is comprised of 15 public sector representatives and 14 private sector representatives. We are proud to work with this group of amazing scientists and thank them for their commitment to HESI and HESI’s mission of developing science-based solutions for a safer, more sustainable world.

For more information on these efforts, please contact HESI (hesi@hesiglobal.org).

Michelle Embry, PhD (HESI Deputy Director) served as Teaching Faculty at the Chulabhorn Research Institute’s (CRI) International Training Course on Practical Application of the Risk Assessment Paradigm to Solve Real-World Problems on December 6 & 7, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Her modules centered on the Risk Assessment in the 21st Century (RISK21) Framework and included a hands-on interactive case studies based on real-world issues that were developed by the RISK21 team, including an excellent and well-received example on inorganic arsenic in rice developed by Dr. Sandrine Deglin (HESI Sr. Scientific Program Manager). There were sixty course participants from government and academic institutions hailing from sixteen different countries: Bhutan, Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam. Discussions are ongoing to continue this valuable and rewarding partnership between HESI and CRI for future courses. For more information, please contact Michelle Embry (membry@hesiglobal.org).

Two HESI Committees, TEA and BSC, held sessions at the Toxicology Forum 2023 Winter Meeting on January 23, 2023. View the full program here: https://toxforum.site-ym.com/page/2023WinterMeetingProgram

Transforming the Evaluation of Agrochemicals

Dr. Sandrine Delgin kicked off the session with a talk titled “Paving the Way to Transform the Evaluation of Agrochemicals.”

Advancement of Botanical Safety Using New Approach Methodologies

Connie Mitchell presenting “Botanicals Have Unique Considerations for Safety Evaluation.”

Incorporating Toxicology Data into Sustainable Product Development: Life Cycle Impact Assessment Perspectives

Dr. Michelle Embry presenting “Bridging the Gap: Risk Assessment Perspectives.”

HESI’s Environmental Epidemiology Committee is continuing its webinar series illustrating the critical role that epidemiology can play in the field of quantitative risk assessment (More information about the past two year’s presentations, as well as their recordings are available on the Committee’s Event page).

The next webinar in the series will be held on 3 February 2023 from 1:00PM – 2:00PM EST. Dr. Hsin-Yi Weng (Purdue University) will provide a presentation titled “Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs): Introduction and applications.” The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. You can read the presentation abstract and learn more about the speaker here.

To register for this webinar, please click here. To learn more about the Environmental Epidemiology Committee or the webinar series, or to suggest speakers, please contact Sandrine Deglin (sdeglin@hesiglobal.org).

Please join us for an upcoming webinar, organized by the HESI Emerging Systems Toxicology for the Assessment of Risk (eSTAR) Committee. Dr. Leah Wehmas (United States Environmental Protection Agency) will present work from the eSTAR FFPE Project. Read the full abstract and register for the event HERE.

A number of HESI Committees will have presentations and posters at the Society of Toxicology Meeting in Nashville, TN. View the full list of HESI Committee presentation at the event page HERE.

HESI Annual Meeting: New Approach Methodologies for Safety Assessment – from Aspiration to Implementation
A joint HESI and UK National Center for the 3Rs Event

Join us for 2 days of thought-provoking and challenging discussions. What will it take to move NAMs sufficiently into practice to meaningfully modulate the current safety assessment paradigms for drugs, chemicals, foods, and consumer products? This interactive meeting will engage participants in discussion with NAMs developers, risk assessors, sponsors, mission-driven organizations, and other stakeholders. HESI and NC3Rs led efforts to advance NAMs will be highlighted. Registration and detailed agenda to be released in February 2022.

The HESI ITC seeks graduate students working in immuno-safety or immunotoxicology fields for a new HESI ITC Professional Development Award. This award offers an opportunity to attend scientific conferences, workshops, or courses, etc. to build core competencies and transferrable skills, and/or share your research. Awardees will also be welcomed to attend ITC’s Business meetings to learn about the emerging projects and science at HESI and to network with experts in the immuno-safety field.

• Award: Selected candidates will receive up to $2000.00 USD award to support attendance at relevant scientific conferences, workshops, training courses, or another related opportunity that contributes to professional development (e.g., laboratory visit for specialized training or another venture – please described in the application form). Proof of attendance 30 days after such event is required to be submitted to ITC committee.
• Qualifications and Requirements: Eligible candidates must be currently enrolled in a graduate program (MS or PhD candidates) in immunology, toxicology, pathology, or related field (cell biology, biochemistry, or similar).
• Application: To apply, please send along the following: 1) completed application form, 2) CV or bioksketch, and 3) one reference letter from your mentor to itc@hesiglobal.org
• Deadline for submission: Friday, January 27th, 2023.

If you have any questions about the HESI ITC or this award, please contact Dr. E’Lissa Flores or Dr. Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan.

Download Application Form HERE

The 2022-2023 HESI Innovation Prize will recognize public sector scientists who have helped to reduce disproportionate health burdens in underserved populations and/or to promote greater health equity. Both Mid-career ($75,000 USD) and Lifetime Achievement ($25,000 USD) awards will be offered.

Interested in applying? Click here!

Applicants must submit a short letter (maximum 5 pages) that includes examples of the impact of the nominee’s work in creating novel, cross-disciplinary collaborations in relation the year’s thematic focus. Applications must also include a CV (5-10 pages maximum) for the nominee, as well as 1-2 letters of support.

Nominations are being accepted until 31 January 2023

The HESI ITC seeks graduate students working in immunology, toxicology, pathology, or related field for a second cycle of their new HESI ITC Mentorship Program. This program will allow meaningful interactions between trainees and mentors to give insight on various career pathways and discuss how to streamline the mentees’ long-term goals. The second cohort will tentatively be from April – June 2023 with 4-5 one-on-one mentor meetings. As well as an opportunity to network with past mentees and expert immuno-safety committee members at our ITC annual meeting (TBD in April 2023).

• Qualifications and Requirements: Eligible candidates must be currently enrolled in a graduate program (MS or PhD candidates) in immunology, toxicology, pathology or related field (cell biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, or similar). And must have completed at least one year in their program.
• Application: To apply, please send along the following: 1) completed application form, 2) CV or Biosketch, and 3) one reference letter from advisor or similar mentor to itc@hesiglobal.org
• Submission Deadline: Friday, March 10, 2023

*All documents must be merged into a single pdf with your first and last name in file title.
* Your mentor letter can be sent separately if they desire.

If you have any questions about the HESI ITC or this program, please contact Dr. E’Lissa Flores

What a great start to the year it was to welcome our Board of Trustees to our DC offices this month! With Trustees traveling from South America, Africa, Europe, and across North America it was a thrill to have everyone together. The room was filled with discussion about opportunities to further enhance HESI’s global reach, further diversify our resource and partner base, and amplify the beneficial health impact of our work. I’d like to offer a special thanks to our staff and program leaders who worked so hard this year to build out novel strategic initiatives like the Global Risk Assessment Training Center (GRATC), Thrive, and Health DataWell. We have always been an organization focused on translating research into application, but we are now an organization also focused on bringing accessible and fit for purpose tools and methods to stakeholders in need around the globe. These efforts will improve quality of life and human and environmental health – and what could be better than that?

With best regards,

Syril Pettit, DrPH, MEM, HESI Executive Director