HESI Insights - March 2023

The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) and NC3Rs are jointly hosting a meeting to bring fresh perspectives to the topic of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for safety assessment.

Through engaged discussion among experts, we will tackle core questions relating to the practical application of NAMs across different sectors and contexts of use.

You will hear about the reality of NAMs from experts with a deep understanding of their practical use for chemical risk assessment. You will learn about the barriers and incentives to a future NAMs-based safety evaluation paradigm, and potential actionable steps to implement change while ensuring that key safety questions are addressed. You can also expect to be part of the conversation – to challenge and be challenged by our panelists, and we encourage you to share your perspective with our panelists, and other attendees. Real-time meeting polls will help track potential shifts in perspective during the two-day meeting.

Join us if you are a research scientist or policy maker actively involved in navigating the often complex intersection between innovation, health protection, implementation and the 3Rs.

The meeting is free to attend, but registration is essential.

Meeting registration will be handled by our partners at NC3Rs. To view the agenda and register click here.

Would you like epidemiological data to play more of a central role in risk assessment? Are you a user of epidemiological data? Are you a risk assessor, or are you interested in risk assessment? Have you ever participated in the development of exposure comparison values (e.g., RfDs, MRLs, OELs…etc.)?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, the survey below is an opportunity to tell us in your own words what you would need to better integrate human data in your work.
Thank you for helping us better understand the practical needs risk assessors may have regarding epidemiological data, and please, do not hesitate to share this link with your colleagues!

You will find the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EpiFoRA

Please contact Sandrine Deglin (sdeglin@hesiglobal.org) with any questions.

Join the Immunosafety Technical Committee in giving an enthusiastic congratulations to our 2 new Professional Development Awardees!

1. Ishita Choudhary Louisiana State University
Research area: Investigating the mechanisms of ozone and allergen induce lung injury.

2. Jaclynn Meshanni Rutgers University
Research area: The role of Lipid homeostasis in macrophages and its impact on the development of Pulmonary fibrosis resulting from Nitrogen mustard exposure.

A new critical review by Mitchell et al., published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, examines the potential for expanding the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in endocrine activity testing and assessment. Read the full article at the link below.

New Approach Methodologies for the Endocrine Activity Toolbox: Environmental Assessment for Fish and Amphibians. Mitchell et al. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. (15 February 2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5584

Learn more about the HESI Next Generation Ecological Risk Assessment Committee

An insightful review by Kamperschoer et al. that provides an overview of the various methods for assessment of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) function in Non-Human Primates in the context of non-clinical safety assessment of immune-modulating therapeutic agents. You can find this publication in the Journal of Immunotoxicology. The link to the full article is included below.

Current approaches to evaluate the function of cytotoxic T-cells in non-human primates. Kamperschroer et al., (2023). Journal of Immunotoxicology, 20:1, DOI: 10.1080/1547691X.2023.2176952

Learn more about the Immuno-Safety Technical Committee

HESI’s Environmental Epidemiology Committee hosted a webinar by Dr. Frank de Vocht (University of Bristol, UK) on March 2nd discussing the limitations of using standard epidemiological study designs for informing risk assessment.

View the webinar recording here.

HESI’s Emerging Systems Toxicology for the Assessment of Risk (eSTAR) Committee hosted a webinar presented by Dr. Leah Wehmans (United States Environmental Protection Agency) on February 11th highlighting the work of the eSTAR FFPE Project.

View the webinar recording here.

The Botanical Safety Consortium recently hosted a webinar by Dr. Yitong Liu, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Yitong uses in silico modeling (quantitative structure-activity relationship, QSAR; physiologically based pharmacokinetic, PBPK), and in vitro testing (e.g., cytotoxicity in cell models; clearance assay in primary human hepatocytes) to evaluate the biokinetics and hepatotoxicity of botanical constituents, such as anthraquinones in fo-ti and cannabinoids in hemp.

View the webinar recording 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.

In conjunction with the upcoming SOT2023 meeting, HESI CORA will meet to discuss their ongoing projects in Nashville, TN. CORA is working to better understand the impacts on the inner ear resulting from co-exposure to noise and a suspected ototoxic substance. Learn more about CORA here. The spring meeting is open to CORA members and potential partners. Contact Jennifer Pierson (jpierson@hesiglobal.org) if you are interested in attending the spring meeting.

This Spring the DART committee will host its second career symposium that will feature DART experts from various sectors. The event will feature a keynote address, a career panel (that includes a 2021 THRIVE grant awardee recipient) and will close with a speed networking session. Surely an event aspiring toxicologist don’t want to miss. Students can register for the event using the following link.

HESI THRIVE is a seed grant program that is innovating translational research and improving quality of life after cancer. By providing researchers with both seed funding and access to critical networks, THRIVE enhances the visibility of the patient need, the value of the research, and the reasons that larger funding entities might elect to incorporate these research streams into future funding priorities.

THRIVE provides seed grants for clinical and translational research and technology-based solutions that enhance our ability to predict when and how adverse effects may occur in patients who have received cancer treatment. The THRIVE grant program is designed to provide seed funding to investigators for the testing of initial hypotheses and collecting of preliminary data to help secure long-term funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and/or other major institutions. This year, we have expanded this opportunity to accept international applications, broadening our reach and heightening the visibility of this important research area. For details on eligibility, funding, the application process, and key deadlines, please click here.

THRIVE will accept letters of intent until 10 April 2023. For more information, contact research@hesithrive.org.

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 May – 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 (25-26 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: April 21, 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. Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan

Apply on the ITC webpage here

The Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Technical Committee (DART) is proud to announce the launch of a new professional development award, geared towards graduate students or postdoctoral fellows in the fields of Reproductive or Developmental Toxicology. Awardees will receive up to $2000 USD to be applied towards scientific conferences, workshops or courses that will build core competencies and transferrable skills and/or share your research. Awardees will be welcomed to attend DART Semi- Annual Meetings to learn about emerging projects and science at HESI and to network with experts in the DART field.

The call for applications will open on April 1st, 2023. For more detail about this opportunity and other HESI DART sponsored events, visit the HESI DART page at https://hesiglobal.org/developmental-and-reproductive-toxicology-dart/