The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) is hosting a Risk e-Learning webinar series focused on the use of innovative, human-relevant technologies to better characterize the biological effects of chemicals. New technologies, including advanced cell-based assays, organoids, and computational modeling approaches, are expanding the toolbox researchers use to answer previously difficult or unanswerable questions. Presenters will discuss how these emerging methodologies are being applied to uncover mechanistic insights, improve predictive accuracy for human health outcomes, and refine risk assessment frameworks. The second session, titled 3D Models and Technologies to Illuminate Biological Effects of Contaminants, will feature three speakers discussing 3D models and other technologies to better understand how contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and endocrine-disrupting compounds affect DNA, placental function, and asthma. Speakers include: Stephen Ferguson, Ph.D., NIEHS Division of Translational Toxicology: This presentation will describe active NIEHS/DTT research to develop and innovatively apply microphysiological systems (MPS) to understand PFAS bioaccumulation and toxicity potential in context with human drugs. Research highlights from a recent publication in Environmental Science & Technology (PMID: 39893674) will be provided along with future considerations and strategies for modeling toxicological phenotypes and interindividual susceptibility with MPS. Susan Tilton, Ph.D., Oregon State University: Critical data gaps exist regarding toxicity of the broader class of structurally diverse, substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the ways in which PAHs contribute to toxicity of mixtures for effective evaluation of human health risk. Dr. Tilton will discuss how the development and application of 3D lung cell models can be used to understand risk for toxicity after inhalation exposure in susceptible individuals, as well as efforts to develop a dosimetry model to improve extrapolation and risk assessment from in vitro systems. Arum Han, Ph.D., Texas A&M University: Dr. Han will introduce microphysiological systems (MPS) of the feto-maternal interface that mimics the structure and functions of the multi-cellular layers in these fetal membrane and placental interfaces, and show how they can be used to provide better mechanistic understanding on how environmental toxicants may contribute to preterm birth risk. He will also discuss the latest engineering advancements in making these MPS models into higher throughput more automatically operated models to increase the usability and adoptability of these new approach methods (NAMs). To learn more about and register for the other sessions in this webinar series, please see the SRP site. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SRP-BioChem-2_011626/

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