Research directions in toxicology at the US National Toxicology Program

C Portier¹, J Bucher¹, WS Stokes¹, M Wolfe¹

1. NIEHS, Environmental Tox., RTP, NC, USA

In its more than 25 years of existence, the NTP has been a leader in toxicology testing and research within the United States and contributed significantly to the scientific knowledge used in making public health decisions. Dramatic advances have occurred in computer science and molecular biology during the last decade of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century. In August 2003, the NTP set forth a vision for the 21st century: to support the evolution of toxicology from a predominantly observational science at the level of disease-specific models to a predominantly predictive science focused upon a broad inclusion of target-specific, mechanism-based, biological observations. The NTP Roadmap, developed with input from leading researchers in academic, industry, government, and advocacy groups, addresses the goals of the NTP vision for the 21st century and provides a framework for setting NTP research priorities to achieve the most efficient and effective research portfolio possible. The NTP Roadmap identifies the challenges and opportunities confronting the program and discusses the directions for the NTP in three main areas: (1) refining traditional toxicological assays, (2) developing rapid, mechanism-based, predictive screens for environmentally induced diseases, and (3) improving the overall utility of toxicology for public health decisions. The NTP Roadmap is posted on its web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov) or available in hardcopy from the NTP Liaison and Scientific Review Office (phone: +1-919-541-0530).

Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2005, 10.00-12.00 h, Estrel Hall A

3.3 Workshop: Forum of National and International Institutions Funding