Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Excerpt

The committee approached its charge by identifying, defining, and describing several proposed applications of toxicogenomics to hazard-identification screening, mechanism-of-action studies, classification of compounds, exposure assessment, defining genetic susceptibility, and reducing the use of animal-based testing. Studies supporting each of these putative applications were then critically evaluated to define limitations, to enumerate remaining challenges, and to propose viable solutions whenever possible. Finally, the committee outlined realistic expectations of how these applications can be validated and how they can be used in risk assessment. The second part of this summary reviews these applications and what is needed for each of them.