Using Computing to Advance Toxicology
By Robert Frederick
A discussion on the use of computer models to screen chemicals for their toxicity—virtually—and so avoid time-intensive and expensive toxicology screenings, including animal testing.
May 25, 2016
From The Staff Biology Chemistry Computer Medicine Technology
Chemicals have changed our lives, providing new products and capabilities, but sometimes causing harm to ourselves and the environment. Reducing exposure to toxic substances is in everyone’s interest, but most chemicals’ toxicity is unknown: Testing toxicity is expensive, takes time, and has often involved animal testing.
Now, scientists are starting to use computer models to predict such things as which chemicals will disrupt blood vessel development (pictured, research linked here) as well as other computational toxicology methods to test chemicals’ toxicity virtually.
In this podcast episode, I spoke with Nicole Kleinstreuer, Deputy Director of the National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), about how computational toxicology is advancing toxicological screenings.
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