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Chauhan V, Beaton D, Hamada N, Wilkins R, Burtt J, Leblanc J, Cool D, Garnier-Laplace J, Laurier D, Le Y, Yamada Y, Tollefsen KE. Adverse Outcome Pathway: A Path towards better Data Consolidation and Global Co-ordination of Radiation Research. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 98:1694-1703. [PMID: 34919011 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.2020363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background The purpose of toxicology is to protect human health and the environment. To support this, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), operating via its Extended Advisory Group for Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (EAGMST), has been developing the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) approach to consolidate evidence for chemical toxicity spanning multiple levels of biological organization. The knowledge transcribed into AOPs provides a structured framework to transparently organize data, examine the weight of evidence of the AOP, and identify causal relationships between exposure to stressors and adverse effects of regulatory perspective. The AOP framework has undergone substantial maturation in the field of hazard characterization of chemicals over the last decade, and has also recently gained attention from the radiation community as a means to advance the mechanistic understanding of human and ecological health effects from exposure to ionizing radiation at low dose and low dose-rates. To fully exploit the value of such approaches for facilitating risk assessment and management in the field of radiation protection, solicitation of experiences and active cooperation between chemical and radiation communities are needed. As a result, the Radiation and Chemical (Rad/Chem) AOP joint topical group was formed on June 1, 2021 as part of the initiative from the High Level Group on Low Dose Research (HLG-LDR). HLG-LDR is overseen by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH). The main aims of the joint AOP topical group are to advance the use of AOPs in radiation research and foster broader implementation of AOPs into hazard and risk assessment. With global representation, it serves as a forum to discuss, identify and develop joint initiatives that support research and take on regulatory challenges. Conclusion: The Rad/Chem AOP joint topical group will specifically engage, promote, and implement the use of the AOP framework to: a) organize and evaluate mechanistic knowledge relevant to the protection of human and ecosystem health from radiation; b) identify data gaps and research needs pertinent to expanding knowledge of low dose and low dose-rate radiation effects; and c) demonstrate utility to support risk assessment by developing radiation-relevant case studies. It is envisioned that the Rad/Chem AOP joint topical group will actively liaise with the OECD EAGMST AOP developmental program to collectively advance areas of common interest and, specifically, provide recommendations for harmonization of the AOP framework to accommodate non-chemical stressors, such as radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Unit, Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ruth Wilkins
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie Burtt
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald Cool
- Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina, US
| | | | - Dominque Laurier
- Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Health and Environment Division, Fontenay-aux-Roses, F-92262, France
| | - Yevgeniya Le
- CANDU Owners Group Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yukata Yamada
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
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Chauhan V, Wilkins RC, Beaton D, Sachana M, Delrue N, Yauk C, O’Brien J, Marchetti F, Halappanavar S, Boyd M, Villeneuve D, Barton-Maclaren TS, Meek B, Anghel C, Heghes C, Barber C, Perkins E, Leblanc J, Burtt J, Laakso H, Laurier D, Lazo T, Whelan M, Thomas R, Cool D. Bringing together scientific disciplines for collaborative undertakings: a vision for advancing the adverse outcome pathway framework. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:431-441. [PMID: 33539251 PMCID: PMC10711570 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1884314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of research to understand the impacts of various types of environmental occupational and medical stressors on human health have produced a vast amount of data across many scientific disciplines. Organizing these data in a meaningful way to support risk assessment has been a significant challenge. To address this and other challenges in modernizing chemical health risk assessment, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) formalized the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework, an approach to consolidate knowledge into measurable key events (KEs) at various levels of biological organisation causally linked to disease based on the weight of scientific evidence (http://oe.cd/aops). Currently, AOPs have been considered predominantly in chemical safety but are relevant to radiation. In this context, the Nuclear Energy Agency's (NEA's) High-Level Group on Low Dose Research (HLG-LDR) is working to improve research co-ordination, including radiological research with chemical research, identify synergies between the fields and to avoid duplication of efforts and resource investments. To this end, a virtual workshop was held on 7 and 8 October 2020 with experts from the OECD AOP Programme together with the radiation and chemical research/regulation communities. The workshop was a coordinated effort of Health Canada, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The AOP approach was discussed including key issues to fully embrace its value and catalyze implementation in areas of radiation risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS A joint chemical and radiological expert group was proposed as a means to encourage cooperation between risk assessors and an initial vision was discussed on a path forward. A global survey was suggested as a way to identify priority health outcomes of regulatory interest for AOP development. Multidisciplinary teams are needed to address the challenge of producing the appropriate data for risk assessments. Data management and machine learning tools were highlighted as a way to progress from weight of evidence to computational causal inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ruth C. Wilkins
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Delrue
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Carole Yauk
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jason O’Brien
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Francesco Marchetti
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sabina Halappanavar
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michael Boyd
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Bette Meek
- McLaughlin Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Edward Perkins
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Jackson, Vicksburg, MS, USA
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Directorate of Environment and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Julie Burtt
- Directorate of Environment and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Holly Laakso
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Dominique Laurier
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Ted Lazo
- Radiological Protection and Human Aspects of Nuclear Safety Division, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris, France
| | - Maurice Whelan
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Russell Thomas
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Donald Cool
- Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA
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Chauhan V, Villeneuve D, Cool D. Collaborative efforts are needed among the scientific community to advance the adverse outcome pathway concept in areas of radiation risk assessment. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:815-823. [PMID: 33253609 PMCID: PMC8312481 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1857456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Disease prevention and prediction have led to the generation of phenotypically based methods for deriving the limits of safety across toxicological disciplines. In the ionizing radiation field, human data has formed the basis of the linear-no-threshold (LNT) model for risk estimates. However, uncertainties around its accuracy at low doses and low dose-rates have led to passionate debates on its effectiveness to derive radiation risk estimates under these conditions. Concerns arise from the linear extrapolation of data from high doses to low doses, below 0.1 Gy where there is considerable variability in the scientific literature. Efforts to address these controversies have led to a mountain of mechanistic data to improve the understanding of molecular and cellular effects related to phenotypic changes. These data provide fragments of information that have yet to be combined and used effectively to improve modeling, reduce uncertainties, and update radiation protection approaches. This paper suggests a better consolidation of mechanistic research may serve to guide priority research and facilitate translation to risk assessment. An effective approach that may be implemented is the organization of data using the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework, a programme that has been launched by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the chemical toxicology field. The AOP concept has proved beneficial to human health and ecological toxicological fields, demonstrating possibilities for better linkages of mechanistic data to phenotypic effects. A similar approach may be beneficial to the field of radiation research. However, for this to work effectively, collaborative efforts are needed among the scientific communities in the area of AOP development and documentation. Studies will need to be evaluated, re-organized and integrated into AOPs. Here, details of the AOP approach and areas it could support in the radiation field are discussed. In addition, challenges are highlighted and steps to integration are outlined. Organizing studies in this manner will facilitate a better understanding of our current knowledge in the radiation field and help identify areas where more focused work can be undertaken. This will, in turn, allow for improved linkage of mechanistic data to human relevance and better support radiation risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Donald Cool
- Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, NC, US
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Kaiser JC, Blettner M, Stathopoulos GT. Biologically based models of cancer risk in radiation research. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 97:2-11. [PMID: 32573309 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1784490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Christian Kaiser
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Maria Blettner
- Epidemiology and Informatics, Institute of Medical Biometry, Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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