Unit of Biochemical Toxicology

The objective of our research is to understand the connection between exposure to chemicals and cancer and endocrine disruption. We work with both cellular models and analyze databases to understand mechanisms behind chemically-induced cancer and prevention mechanisms. We also develop methods for biomonitoring and risk assessment. Other areas of interest are combined effects of carcinogens and gender differences in carcinogenesis.

Progress within these areas will lead to improved risk assessment and development of prevention strategies.

Head of unit

Research group leaders

Unit members

Projects

Mechanisms and prevention

• Autotaxin and toxicity of diisocyanates
• Cancer risk associated with low dose silica exposure
• Gender differences in carcinogenesis
• Genotoxic evaluation in Bolivian populations exposed to mixtures of pesticides
• Interactions between PAHs in complex mixtures and cellular effects
• Toxicity of (nano)particles with a focus on genome instability
• Transcriptional mutagenesis and cellular effects
• Application of the Adverse Outcome Pathway concept and bioinformatics for mechanistic understanding of COVID-19

Risk assessment

• A harmonized approach for human biomonitoring on the European level: COPHES and DEMOCOPHES twin projects
• EuroMix - Assessing the health risks of combined human exposure to multiple food-related toxic substances
• Exposure and risk assessment of persistent pollutants in food and water
• Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in early childhood and health effects in childhood and adolescence
• Health risk assessment of Endocrine Disrupters – focus on bisphenol A and development of methodology
• Quantitative health risk assessment in historical contaminated areas – exposure and risk characterization
• Systematic review of nonmonotonic dose-responses of substances for human risk assessment
• Using text mining to aid cancer risk assessment
• Toward risk assessment without animals: Development of Adverse Outcome Pathways for lung cancer