T2 AM 'Omic' Technologies: Current and Future Application to Environmental Toxicology (Part 1)
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 2

(ANK-1117-823187) Role of genomics in regulatory ecotoxicology: overview of a Pellston workshop.

Ankley, G¹, Daston, G², Hodson, P³, Hoke, R⁴, Miracle, A⁵, Perkins, E⁶, Snape, J⁷, Tyler, C⁸, ¹ US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, USA² Proctor and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, USA³ Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada⁴ DuPont, Newark, DE, USA⁵ Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Richland, WA, USA⁶ US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS, USA⁷ AstraZeneca, Brixham, UK⁸ University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

ABSTRACT- A variety of new techniques have emerged to examine responses of organisms to internal and external stimuli at the molecular level. Approaches to evaluate gene, protein and metabolite expression/production (collectively referred to as toxicogenomics) promise to impact the field of toxicology in several respects, including: (a) identification of mechanisms/modes of action to help define toxicity pathways, (b) providing a basis for extrapolation of chemical effects across species, (c) development of techniques for dealing with chemical mixtures, and (d) identification of biomarkers of exposure, bioaccumulation and effects for use in both lab and field (monitoring) studies. Much of this potential, however, has been discussed in the literature and at technical meetings only in relatively broad terms, making it difficult to assess exactly how data generated from new genomics technologies might impact/benefit different types of risk assessments. This challenge has started to be recognized by scientists and regulators involved in human health assessments; however, ecotoxicologists have yet to address the issue in a systematic fashion. There are critical differences between human health and ecological risk assessments that render a one size fits all fix problematic with respect to generation and application of genomic data. Hence it is important (and timely) to develop a conceptual framework concerning how genomics data can most effectively impact current approaches for ecological risk assessments. Given the long history of SETAC Pellston workshops in aligning science and regulation, it was felt that this was an ideal forum for addressing the issue. To this end, a Pellston workshop, Molecular Biology and Risk Assessment: Evaluation of the Potential Role of Genomics in Regulatory Ecotoxicology, with about 40 international participants from industry, government and academia, was held in September, 2005, in North America. Our presentation will highlight outcomes of that Pellston meeting.

Key words: genomics, regulation, Pellston workshop