Weight of evidence and systematic review methodology in health risk assessment of chemicals
Course dates
Planned to be given in spring 2026.
On-line course
The course will be given as an on-line course, with synchronous lectures, exercises and group assignments using online webinar tool Zoom and Karolinska Institutet’s learning management system Canvas. Participants must be able to attend daily at 9-17 CET, and have access to a computer, headset, webcam and internet connection.
Course organiser
The course is organised by the Advanced International Training Programme in Health Risk Assessment at IMM in collaboration with the Executive and Professional Education Office at Karolinska Institutet.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the participant should be able to:
- define specific questions to be addressed in a health risk assessment of chemicals
- apply and discuss methods to assemble, weigh and integrate scientific evidence in health risk assessment of chemicals
- reflect on the need for and importance of systematic approaches in health risk assessment of chemicals
Content
Health risk assessment of chemicals is the scientific method to assess the risk to humans of exposure to different types of chemical substances, such as environmental pollutants, pharmaceuticals, chemicals in cosmetics or other everyday products, pesticides, food additives and other substances in food. The health risk assessment is based on a specified question that is answered by analysis of different type of data from in vivo, in vitro, in silico and epidemiological studies. The course will address methodology for weight of evidence assessment and systematic review and specifically how to, in a systematic manner, plan the assessment, identify data, assess the relevance and reliability of the data and integrate the data to be able to answer the assessment question. The course will cover the following: identification of a risk assessment question, systematic literature searches, organizing the data into lines of evidence, assessment of the relevance of the data, assessment of reliability of the data and integration of the data in a weight of evidence approach.
Teaching and learning activities
Teaching and learning activities include lectures, exercises and group assignments. All activities will be on-line using the online webinar tool Zoom and Karolinska Institutet’s learning management system Canvas.
Course programme
Target group
The course is intended for PhD students and other participants from academia as well as participants from authorities and industry.
Course fee
The fee for PhD students is 2000 SEK, other participants from academia 3000 SEK, from authorities 6000 SEK and from industry 9000 SEK, including VAT. Course fee includes course material. Payment of course fee can only be accepted from the participant’s employer, not from individuals.
Course application
Information will be provided later.
Course leader
Johanna Zilliacus, Annika Hanberg and Anna Beronius, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.