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News

Can human brain-like models improve how we test chemicals for neurotoxicity?

Can human brain-like models improve how we test chemicals for neurotoxicity?

Current approaches to neurotoxicity testing rely heavily on animal studies, which are often costly and time-consuming. This limits the ability to assess the growing number of chemicals that may affect the human nervous system. A recent study presents advanced human-derived 3D BrainSphere models, combining neurons and supporting cells, to better...

Adverse Outcome Pathways. Artificial Intelligence

Can artificial intelligence transform how we build Adverse Outcome Pathways?

Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) are central to next-generation chemical hazard assessment. They map how a molecular interaction triggered by a chemical can lead, step by step, to an adverse outcome in a cascading manner. AOPs provide a shared framework through which scientists and regulators identify key biological events, clarify evidence...

PARC receives positive assessment of its phasing-out strategy

PARC has submitted its phasing-out strategy to the European Commission on 20 March 2026, marking an important milestone in ensuring the long-term sustainability of its activities and impact. The European Commission has reviewed the strategy and confirmed that it is in alignment with the provided guidelines and Horizon Europe legal...

Are we underestimating the environmental risks of aquatic toxins?

Are we underestimating the environmental risks of aquatic toxins?

Harmful algal blooms are becoming more frequent worldwide, driven by climate change and pollution. These events release potent toxins into water systems, raising concerns for both human and environmental health. A new review suggests that current research may be overlooking a critical part of the problem. While most studies focus...

224 results

Events

12th International Conference on Human Biomonitoring and Exposure Assessment – Advancing Knowledge on Environmental Exposures and Health

The 12 th International Conference on Human Biomonitoring and Exposure Assessment, organised by the International Network on Children's Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES), is a leading international event focused on human exposure science, biomonitoring, and the impacts of environmental factors on public health. The conference will bring together scientists, policymakers...

Global Exposome Summit 2026 – Advancing Exposome Science for Health and Environment

The Global Exposome Summit 2026 is an international event dedicated to advancing exposome science and its applications to public health, environmental research, and policy. Bringing together leading scientists, regulators, healthcare professionals, innovators, and stakeholders from around the world, the summit will explore how lifelong environmental exposures interact with biology to...

Nontarget2026 – Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals in the Environment

Eawag will host Nontarget2026 – Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals in the Environment, an international conference dedicated to advancing non-target screening approaches for comprehensive chemical risk assessment. The event will bring together researchers, regulators, and technical experts to discuss the latest developments in analytical technologies, computational tools, transformation products, persistent/mobile/toxic...

Webinar on using biomonitoring to improve risk communication in occupational health

As part of the PARC webinar series on risk communication, PARC is organising a webinar on the "Using biomonitoring to improve risk communication in occupational health", which will take place online via Zoom on 5 May 2026, from 15:30 to 16:30 CET. The session will be led by Susana Viegas...

17 results

Thematic areas

Building infrastructure and human capacities:

Laboratory networks

Get to know the European laboratories that belong to our existing network as well as the new recruitments in order to maintain and to strengthen monitoring capacities.

Tools & resources:

Safe and sustainable by design in PARC

Come to know how we are catalysing the shift towards safe and sustainable chemicals, materials and products to to minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Tools & resources:

Innovative methods & tools

Learn how we are boosting innovation for modelling exposure and risks and monitoring chemicals in both human and environmental matrices.

Risk assessments:

Hazard assessment

Learn new approaches and methods of health assessment and provide data to fill gaps in knowledge on poorly characterised contaminants or new emerging hazards while promoting the use of innovative methods.

83 results

Projects

Omics for chemical grouping and read-across

Overview Regulatory agencies increasingly recognise the need for fast and reliable methods to assess the safety of large numbers of chemicals. Omics technologies, such as high-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) and phenotypic profiling (HTPP), combined with systems toxicology models, offer promising solutions. This project supports the use of these technologies to improve...

Investigating mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHexP) exposure

Key messages MnHexP exposure evaluation on European level; Potential source UV-filter DHHB. Overview This project addresses an urgent need identified by the European Environment Agency ( EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency ( ECHA) in February 2024, which triggered the activation of PARC’s Rapid Response Mechanism. The concern arose from...

Understanding volatile siloxanes in Europe to support regulation

Overview This project targets siloxanes, especially the cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (CVMS) D4, D5 and D6, and selected linear volatile methylsiloxanes (LVMS), due to their high production volume and widespread in industrial and consumer use. These substances are recognised for their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Regulatory actions under REACH have...

Sex-based differences in susceptibility to liver toxicants

Key messages To address current gaps in test strategies for chemical-induced liver toxicity, this project will support regulatory assessments by integrating sex-specific biological differences into in vitro liver models: to improve mechanistic understanding of sex-specific mechanisms of liver toxicity; to enhance human relevance and equity of chemical safety assessments through...

166 results

Publications

The integrated stress response-related expression of CHOP due to mitochondrial toxicity is a warning sign for DILI liability

The integrated stress response-related expression of CHOP dueto mitochondrial toxicity is a warning sign for DILI liability

Background and Aims: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the most frequentreasons for failure of drugs in clinical trials or market withdrawal. Early assessmentof DILI risk remains a major challenge during drug development. Here, we presenta mechanism-based weight-of-evidence approach able to identify certain candidatecompounds with DILI liabilities due to...

Spatio-temporal transcriptomic analysis reveals distinct nephrotoxicity, DNA damage, and regeneration response after cisplatin

Spatio-temporal transcriptomic analysis reveals distinct nephrotoxicity, DNA damage, and regeneration response after cisplatin

Nephrotoxicity caused by drug or chemical exposure involves complex mechanisms as well as a temporal integration of injury and repair responses in different nephron segments. Distinct cellular transcriptional programs regulate the time-dependent tissue injury and regeneration responses. Whole kidney transcriptome analysis cannot dissect the complex spatio-temporal injury and regeneration responses...

Identification of concepts of importance for the assessment of internal validity of in vitro toxicology studies using a modified Delphi technique

Identification of concepts of importance for the assessment of internal validity of in vitro toxicology studies using a modified Delphi technique

Context In vitro toxicity studies are increasingly being included as evidence in systematic reviews and chemical risk assessments. INVITES-IN, a tool for assessing the internal validity of in vitro studies, is under development in a process consisting of four consecutive studies. Study One in the creation of INVITES-IN was the...

Beyond estrogenicity: a comparative assessment of bisphenol A and its alternatives in in vitro assays questions safety of replacements

Beyond estrogenicity: a comparative assessment of bisphenol A and its alternatives in in vitro assays questions safety of replacements

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine disruptor linked to numerous adverse health outcomes and was, therefore, banned in food-contact materials in the European Union. Numerous alternatives are now in commerce, but their health hazards are often inadequately addressed. This study compared BPA and 26 alternatives in six in vitro...

78 results

Deliverables

First report on innovative methods based on PBK models

First report on aggregate exposure for general population and workers

First closing data gaps report

First new PBK models report

20 results

Indicators

Number and characteristics of scientific publications

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Scientific publications by month

Number and characteristics of new projects approved for implementation

Learn more about the research projects here.

Involvement of different stakeholders in the national hubs

99 results

Learning materials

How Safe and Sustainable by Design can be useful for companies

This webinar explores how Safe and Sustainable by Design can be useful for companies, featuring policy and industry perspectives, recent EU developments, and company implementation challenges.

SSbD in Nano- and Micro-Pellets & Capsules for Cosmetics

This video introduces the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approach in developing nano- and micro-pellets or capsules for cosmetics. Focusing on improved efficacy, controlled release, and sustainable material design.

SSbD Hub Data Management Tool

The Data Management Tool developed for the INTEGRANO project is presented, highlighting its capacity to manage experimental and logistical data, support FAIR principles, and facilitate collaboration among research partners.

SSbD for University students and researchers

This video introduces the SSbD framework for University students and researchers, detailing its role in guiding safe and sustainable research and innovation.

203 results

Partners

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Library Avenue, Bailrigg , LA1 4AP

The Institute of Occupational Medicine

Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Midlothian EH14 4AP

Health and Safety Executive

Harpur Hill, SK17 9JN

Environment Agency

Horizon House, Deanery Road, BS1 5AH

251 results

Laboratories

Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute (DTU)

Henrik Dams Allé, Building 202, DK-2800 Kgs Lyngby

National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE)

5 rue de la Doua - CS 20244, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex

University of Gdańsk

Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, building G, third floor

National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA)

Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055 Porto

18 results

Other content

Our story A sound management of chemicals is essential to implement many, if not all, UN Sustainable Development Goals. The UN (Global Environmental Outlook) and the EU Green Deal, call for measures to secure a non-toxic environment. The total number of industrial chemicals in commerce globally was conservatively estimated at...

Governance structure Use the interactive map above to discover the governance structure of P-A-R-C. Governing Board Governing Board (GB): The GB is the overarching body of PARC that provides the highest level strategic steering of the Partnership through continuous dialogue by its members with the implementation bodies to align PARC...

Our impact Policy/societal impact First network of more than 200 European, cross-sectorial public partners working on risk assessment for chemicals at national and/or European level. Scientific impact Collaboration between networks of parents working in different areas, to construct a common approach and the sharing of data based on FAIR principles...

Mission, vision and objectives

Mission PARC’s mission is to address current, emerging and novel chemical safety challenges and enabling the transition to the Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA), in line with the European Green Deal’s zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free environment and in particular with the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free...