Martin van den Berg PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Regulatory Toxicology & Pharmacology and Current Opinion in Toxicology), Daniel R. Dietrich PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Chemico-Biological Interactions, Computational Toxicology, and Journal of Toxicology and Regulatory Policy), Sonja von Aulock PhD (Editor-in-Chief, ALTEX – Alternatives to Animal Experimentation), Anna Bal-Price PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Reproductive Toxicology), Michael D. Coleman PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology), Mark T.D. Cronin PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Computational Toxicology), Paul Jennings PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Toxicology in Vitro), Angela Mally PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Toxicology Letters), Mathieu Vinken PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Toxicology and NAM Journal), Matthew C. Wright PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Food and Chemical Toxicology)
{"title":"The Alarming Consequences of Workforce Reductions at the FDA, EPA, NIH and CDC in the United States☆","authors":"Martin van den Berg PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Regulatory Toxicology & Pharmacology and Current Opinion in Toxicology), Daniel R. Dietrich PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Chemico-Biological Interactions, Computational Toxicology, and Journal of Toxicology and Regulatory Policy), Sonja von Aulock PhD (Editor-in-Chief, ALTEX – Alternatives to Animal Experimentation), Anna Bal-Price PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Reproductive Toxicology), Michael D. Coleman PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology), Mark T.D. Cronin PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Computational Toxicology), Paul Jennings PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Toxicology in Vitro), Angela Mally PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Toxicology Letters), Mathieu Vinken PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Toxicology and NAM Journal), Matthew C. Wright PhD (Editor-in-Chief, Food and Chemical Toxicology)","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2025.100530","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2025.100530","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 100530"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Blum , Kristina Bartmann , Joyce de Paula Souza , Ellen Fritsche
{"title":"Developmental neurotoxicity as a case example for a six-step framework for the sustainable regulatory implementation of NAMs","authors":"Jonathan Blum , Kristina Bartmann , Joyce de Paula Souza , Ellen Fritsche","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2025.100528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2025.100528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are advancing toxicology by offering reliable, human-relevant alternatives to traditional animal methods. This review outlines a six-step framework guiding NAMs from development to regulatory approval, using the Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro battery (IVB) as an example.</div><div>The framework begins with the development of robust test systems with human-relevant models (step 1). Next, a NAM-based roadmap aligns testing strategies with regulatory needs and encourages early stakeholder engagement (step 2). Test method readiness is assessed for biological relevance, reproducibility, and reliability (step 3). Scientific validation includes technical characterization, independent expert review, and transparent public data sharing (step 4). OECD recognition ensures a rigorous evaluation process before NAMs are included in official guidelines (step 5). Lastly, public availability through Contract Research Organizations (CROs) guarantees compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and facilitates regulatory adoption (step 6).</div><div>This DNT IVB lifecycle exemplifies the implementation of NAMs, continuously evolving with scientific progress. It supports initiatives like the European Roadmap towards phasing out animal testing and the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework under the European Green Deal. By providing a structured pathway, this lifecycle approach fosters NAM-based, human-centric risk assessments for a more sustainable future in chemical safety testing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 100528"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Barbara Viviani , Miriam Midali , Melania Maria Serafini , Iris Mangas
{"title":"Implementing AOPs use for pesticide neurotoxicity assessment","authors":"Barbara Viviani , Miriam Midali , Melania Maria Serafini , Iris Mangas","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the unique characteristics of the nervous system, chemical exposures pose significant challenges in establishing definitive links to neurological adverse health effects. The key obstacles to neurotoxicity assessment include the complexity of the nervous system, species differences, extended developmental time, and cumulative exposure risks. Regulatory agencies have long required neurotoxicity testing, which has relied primarily on animal models. With increased mechanistic understanding and technological progress, other approaches become possible that could address some of the limitations of traditional neurotoxicity testing (e.g. high cost, ethical concerns, low precision, or human relevance). Recent international efforts to develop adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) and AOP-informed Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment offer new possibilities for neurotoxicity testing and assessment. This mini review highlights the advances, while addressing limitations, in the development and application of AOPs for both adult and developmental neurotoxicity as a way to address shortcomings in regulatory neurotoxicity assessment. Case studies are provided to illustrate the recent successful integration of AOPs into regulatory decision-making for pesticide risk assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 100505"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The key characteristics concept","authors":"Martyn T. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In evaluating whether a chemical can cause cancer or another adverse outcome, three lines of evidence are typically considered: epidemiology, animal bioassays and mechanistic evidence. The key characteristics (KCs) form the basis of a uniform approach for searching, organizing, and evaluating mechanistic evidence to support hazard identification. KCs are the established properties of the toxicants themselves and are generated from our understanding of mechanisms of toxicity. KCs have been published for carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and reproductive, liver immune and cardiovascular toxicants. We noted that several KCs were common to different types of toxicants, whereas others were highly specific. Hence, there may be overlapping umbrella KCs for potentially hazardous bioactive chemicals that could be used in predictive toxicology. There are, however, also clearly unique KCs for chemicals that primarily target a specific organ and these unique KCs could be especially important to predicting target organ toxicity. It is possible that <em>in silico</em> approaches, <em>in vitro</em> tests, and <em>in vivo</em> biomarkers could be developed, which predict the “umbrella” and “unique” KCs of hazardous chemicals. However, given the significance of human evidence, the development of a set of biomarkers that could be used to measure the KCs in molecular epidemiology studies is also important.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 100515"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advancements in the developmental zebrafish model for predictive human toxicology","authors":"Mackenzie L. Morshead, Robyn L. Tanguay","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid assessment of chemical hazards to human health, with reduced reliance on mammalian testing is essential in the 21st century. Early life stage zebrafish have emerged as a leading model in the field due to their amenability to high throughput developmental toxicity testing while retaining the benefits of using a whole vertebrate organism with high homology with humans. Zebrafish are particularly well suited for a variety of study areas that are more challenging in other vertebrate model systems, including microbiome work, transgenerational studies, gene–environment interactions, molecular responses, and mechanisms of action. The high volume of data generated from zebrafish screening studies is highly valuable for QSAR modeling and dose modeling for use in predictive hazard assessment. Recent advancements and challenges in using early life stage zebrafish for predictive human toxicology are reviewed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 100516"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143082786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patrick Allard, Justin A. Colacino, Kristine L. Willett
{"title":"Editorial: Transforming toxicology one cell at a time: A special issue on the application of scRNA-seq to the study of environmental response","authors":"Patrick Allard, Justin A. Colacino, Kristine L. Willett","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100503","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100503","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 100503"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142271004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Practical lessons of the 3Rs: Learning from the past and looking toward the future","authors":"Alan M. Hoberman , Barbara L.F. Kaplan","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100499","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100499","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Replacement, reduction, and refinement, known as the 3Rs, is a well-known and broadly applied concept in biomedical science. Since its formal introduction in 1959, application of the 3Rs have refined approaches to reduce or eliminate distress, reduced overall use through repeated measures approaches and use of appropriate numbers of animals, or have replaced animals altogether. However, adoption of the 3Rs is not always easy, due in part to initial lack of awareness of the importance of animal well-being to the outcome of scientific investigation, a lack of understanding of use of results from <em>in vivo</em> model verses <em>in vitro</em> models, lack of effective communication about model benefits, or other technical issues with the development or use of an assay. In understanding the history of the 3Rs, we can learn from or avoid previous challenges as we look to the future of the application of the 3Rs. For instance, there is little doubt that awareness and use of the 3Rs influenced the concept of new approach methods (NAMs), a term describing assays that include traditional <em>in vitro</em> cultures, microphysiological systems, and <em>in silico</em> approaches, and is certainly part of the 3Rs future and the ultimate replacement of an animal-based assay.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 100499"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New approach methodologies (NAMs) in drug safety assessment: A vision of the future","authors":"Ruth A. Roberts","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Much progress has been made in reducing and refining animal use in toxicology testing, but progress in the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to replace animals is disappointing. There are many highly sophisticated NAMs available, but societal, regulatory and political barriers to their implementation remain. Change requires vision, starting with imagining a future where we are successful. Specifically, this would comprise the registration of safe and effective medicines without animal tests. How do we achieve this vision? Thinking differently, in silico methods could be used to provide a detailed assessment of target- and modality-related toxicological risks, coupled with modelling of exposure. In vitro NAMs such as microphysiological systems, microelectrode array and ion channel panels could then be employed to address hypothetical risks. Finally, the safety of first time in human trials could be assessed and assured using circulating nanobots that measure conventional clinical pathology parameters alongside new biomarkers such as circulating tissue DNA. This may seem the stuff of fantasy, but imagination is key to shaping a better future and all change starts with a vision, however far-fetched it may seem today.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 100502"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142314942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adverse outcome pathway networks as the basis for the development of new approach methodologies: Liver toxicity as a case study","authors":"Mathieu Vinken","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100504","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100504","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The fields of toxicology and risk assessment are witnessing a paradigm shift moving away from animal testing towards the use of nonanimal and human-based new approach methodologies (NAMs). NAMs are fed by mechanistic information captured in adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks, which are being developed and optimized at high pace. The present paper demonstrates this (r)evolution for the case of liver toxicity induced by pharmaceutical drugs. NAMs, <em>in casu</em> designed to predict hepatotoxicity, are composed of an <em>in vitro</em> system linked with a suite of assays mechanistically anchored in relevant AOP networks. These NAMs allow tiered testing at the transcriptional, translational and functionality level at high predictive capacity. Although promising, however, several challenges in NAM development still need to be tackled and are discussed in this paper.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 100504"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142445122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application of single cell methods in immunometabolism and immunotoxicology","authors":"Peer W.F. Karmaus","doi":"10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100488","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Recent developments of novel single-cell analysis techniques have rapidly advanced the fields of immunotoxicology and immunometabolism. Single-cell analyses enable the characterization of immune cells, unraveling heterogeneity, and population dynamics in response to cellular perturbations, including toxicant insults and changes in cellular metabolism. This review provides an overview of current technologies and recent discoveries, illustrating an emerging role of single-cell analyses in the field of immunotoxicology and immunometabolism. Various single-cell techniques, including flow cytometry, mass cytometry, multiplexed imaging, and sequencing, together with their applications to studying immunotoxicology and immunometabolism are discussed. This review emphasizes the potential for single-cell analyses to revolutionize our understanding of immune cell heterogeneity, uncover novel cellular therapeutic targets, and pave the way for novel mechanistic insights.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93968,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in toxicology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Article 100488"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141596855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}