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Molecular characterisation of the mechanism underlying teratogenic activity
Project
Project code: BfR-PRS-08-1322-597
Contract period: 01.03.2013
- 31.12.2015
Purpose of research: Applied research
Developmental toxicity induced through maternal exposure during pregnancy is an important aspect in the assessment of chemical toxicity. This is also reflected in the recent report of the European chemical agency (ECHA) on the dossiers submitted to ECHA as a consequence of the EU chemical legislation (REACH). Here, a third of all testing proposals is related to developmental toxicity. There have already been several attempts to address developmental toxicity in vitro. However, the complexity of this endpoint and the plethora of potential mechanism of action require a rather large comprehensive testing battery. In recent years the identification of specific and general pathways involved in the establishment of adverse developmental effects (called “toxicity pathways”) has been identified as a new approach to address this problem and has been promoted by various national and international research programs. The main aim of this project is the molecular characterization of the teratogenic activity of two model compounds (valproic acid (VPA) and retinoic acid (RA)) to identify both common and rather specific toxicity pathways.
Section overview
Subjects
- Biotechnology
- Toxicology