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Translational toxicology: a developmental focus for integrated research strategies.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hughes, C; Waters, M; Allen, D; Obasanjo, I
Published in: BMC Pharmacol Toxicol
September 30, 2013

BACKGROUND: Given that toxicology studies the potential adverse effects of environmental exposures on various forms of life and that clinical toxicology typically focuses on human health effects, what can and should the relatively new term of "translational toxicology" be taken to mean? DISCUSSION: Our assertion is that the core concept of translational toxicology must incorporate existing principles of toxicology and epidemiology, but be driven by the aim of developing safe and effective interventions beyond simple reduction or avoidance of exposure to prevent, mitigate or reverse adverse human health effects of exposures.The field of toxicology has now reached a point where advances in multiple areas of biomedical research and information technologies empower us to make fundamental transitions in directly impacting human health. Translational toxicology must encompass four action elements as follows: 1) Assessing human exposures in critical windows across the lifespan; 2) Defining modes of action and relevance of data from animal models; 3) Use of mathematical models to develop plausible predictions as the basis for: 4) Protective and restorative human health interventions. The discussion focuses on the critical window of in-utero development. SUMMARY: Exposure assessment, basic toxicology and development of certain categories of mathematical models are not new areas of research; however overtly integrating these in order to conceive, assess and validate effective interventions to mitigate or reverse adverse effects of environmental exposures is our novel opportunity. This is what we should do in translational toxicology so that we have a portfolio of interventional options to improve human health that include both minimizing exposures and specific preventative/restorative/mitigative therapeutics.

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Published In

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol

DOI

EISSN

2050-6511

Publication Date

September 30, 2013

Volume

14

Start / End Page

51

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Translational Research, Biomedical
  • Toxicology
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pediatric Obesity
  • Humans
  • Fetal Development
  • Female
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Health
 

Citation

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Hughes, C., Waters, M., Allen, D., & Obasanjo, I. (2013). Translational toxicology: a developmental focus for integrated research strategies. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol, 14, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-51
Hughes, Claude, Michael Waters, David Allen, and Iyabo Obasanjo. “Translational toxicology: a developmental focus for integrated research strategies.BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 14 (September 30, 2013): 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-51.
Hughes C, Waters M, Allen D, Obasanjo I. Translational toxicology: a developmental focus for integrated research strategies. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013 Sep 30;14:51.
Hughes, Claude, et al. “Translational toxicology: a developmental focus for integrated research strategies.BMC Pharmacol Toxicol, vol. 14, Sept. 2013, p. 51. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/2050-6511-14-51.
Hughes C, Waters M, Allen D, Obasanjo I. Translational toxicology: a developmental focus for integrated research strategies. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013 Sep 30;14:51.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol

DOI

EISSN

2050-6511

Publication Date

September 30, 2013

Volume

14

Start / End Page

51

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Translational Research, Biomedical
  • Toxicology
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pediatric Obesity
  • Humans
  • Fetal Development
  • Female
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Health