Immunotoxicogenomics Workshop

Presentations are now available on the Agenda.

A workshop was held at the RTP campus of the Environmental Protection Agency September 27-28, 2005 to discuss the potential role of genomics techniques for immunotoxicity testing. The major focus of the meeting was the theoretical and practical utility of genomics techniques to replace or supplement current screening procedures, to provide insight into potential mode or mechanisms of action, and to provide data suitable for risk assessment. The latter goal is of considerable interest to a variety of regulatory agencies as a means to reduce animal use and to decrease the cost of conducting and interpreting standard toxicity tests. (Testing costs range from 15M$ to 20M$, while review and evaluation of the test results by EPA can range from 1M$ to 2M$ per chemical.)

Acknowledged expert practitioners from other toxicology disciplines provided current state-of-the science overviews of toxicogenomics in nonlymphoid organ systems, summarizing the positive and negative aspects of a variety of techniques, data reproducibility, prerequisites for successful application of these techniques, and predictive value of genomics data for functional changes. These talks were followed by overview presentations by immunotoxicologists on the use of various genomic methods for screening (i.e., identification of immunosuppressants and sensitizers) and identification of potential modes of immunotoxicant action. Breakout groups addressed the data requirements and potential research strategies of the three focus areas (screening, mechanisms and risk assessment). The workshop proceedings will be summarized and published in the peer-reviewed literature.

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