The SEURAT-1 Research Strategy: Proving Concepts

The SEURAT-1 strategy and objectives were presented in 2011. The emphasis now is to further elaborate the proof-of-concept objective. It is appreciated that key SEURAT-1 concepts could be understood on different scientific levels. On the first level, or the ‘Knowledge’ level, the proof-of-concept involves showing how a systematic and practical process can be defined and employed to harvest mode-of-action knowledge and to organise and present it in a structured and efficient manner so that others can readily apply it. Since a wealth of information already exists on mechanistic toxicology, much of this exercise is focused on harnessing the available knowledge via systematic review of relevant literature, complemented with prospective computational and in vitro studies where needed. On the second level, or the ‘Systems’ level, the emphasis is on demonstrating how to assemble, calibrate and evaluate a system for predicting various aspects of chemical toxicity. Central to this exercise is the use of mode-of-action knowledge to rationally design these systems so that each component is relevant and contributes to achieving the prediction goal. On the third and final level, or the ‘Application’ level, the focus is on decision-making and how information derived from prediction systems that identify and characterise toxicological hazards can be used to the greatest effect when evaluating the safety of a chemical.

WHELAN Maurice;  SCHWARZ Michael; 

2014-01-09

Coach consortium

JRC84734

978-2-9539634-2-7,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC84734,