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News

Meeting of the International Board advances alignment of working groups and strategic priorities for PARC activities

The 4 th quarterly meeting of the International Board (IB) marked a productive step forward for the PARC consortium, with members aligning on key organisational and strategic priorities. Discussions focused in particular on the creation of working groups aimed at fostering a more harmonised flow of knowledge across PARC entities...

Rapid Response Mechanism Alternaria Toxins

Mobilising PARC’s Rapid Response Mechanism to address data gaps on Alternaria toxins

The Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) implemented within PARC has been activated for the third time since its establishment in November 2023. This request, submitted by the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA) on 17 September 2025, addresses specific data gaps related to certain Alternaria toxins. The data requested are essential...

Second Training Needs Survey

Building capacity in PARC: Findings from the Second Training Needs Survey

Recognising the rapid evolution of scientific methods, regulatory expectations, and the changing needs of the risk assessment community, a second PARC Training Needs Survey was conducted in 2025 to ensure that the second PARC training cycle remains relevant, targeted, and responsive. A two-step approach was followed: an institutional-level survey, distributed...

data gaps report

PARC strengthens the scientific basis for chemical risk assessment with first data gaps report

The PARC consortium has released the first data gaps report under its work package on hazard assessment, marking a key milestone in efforts to strengthen the scientific foundation for chemical risk assessment in Europe. The report compiles initial results from a wide range of studies on selected chemical groups using...

224 results

Events

Modeling Approaches for HTA: A Practical Hands-on Workshop

This 3-day course on Modelling Approaches for HTA, will take place from 15 to 17 April 2026 in Hall in Tirol, Austria. This hands-on workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to six key modelling techniques used in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and public health, combining theoretical foundations with practical exercises. Participants...

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Society of Toxicology - 2026 Annual Meeting

The 65 th Annual Society of Toxicology (SOT) Meeting and ToxExpo is recognised as one of the most comprehensive global gatherings in the field - offering cutting-edge science spanning molecular mechanisms, exposure science, risk assessment, emerging methodologies, and practical applications for human and environmental health protection. The SOT 2026 Meeting...

Advances in Pharmacology and Toxicology: German Summit 2026

The 11 th German Pharm-Tox Summit (GPTS 2026) is a leading annual event bringing together researchers, clinicians, toxicologists, pharmacologists, and regulatory experts to discuss cutting-edge developments in pharmacology and toxicology. The scientific programme features sessions covering experimental and clinical pharmacology, novel toxicology models, mechanistic insights into adverse outcomes, integrated safety...

Plastics2026 - A Global Symposium on Plastics and Human Health

Plastics2026 is a global symposium focusing on the human health implications of plastics throughout their lifecycle - from production and use to degradation and environmental release. The conference brings together scientists, clinicians, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss emerging evidence on human exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals, and to...

83 results

Projects

Innovative testing of chemical effects on the immune system

Overview This project is focusing its research on developing New Approach Methodologies ( NAMs) to assess how chemicals effect the immune system. This addresses three key areas: organ-specific immune effects, particularly in the respiratory system and related allergic reactions; immune system suppression, measured through its response to vaccination; and improved...

Developing indicators for chemical risk and health impact assessment

Key messages Human biomonitoring (HBM) data are being used to calculate the health impact of chemical exposure. Risk indicators as percentage of exceedance, extent of exceedance gives information if and how much human biomonitoring guidance values are breached or not. Indicators on burden of disease as attributable cases or disability...

Advanced tools to identify metabolism-disrupting chemicals

Key messages Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ( EDCs) can cause long-lasting changes to how our bodies manage energy and fat storage – what scientist call metabolic disruption. Chemicals suspected to trigger these changes are known as metabolism-disrupting chemicals. They may contribute to obesity, type II diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease...

Improving testing methods for thyroid hormone disrupting chemicals

Overview The European Chemicals Agency ( ECHA) is incorporating international guidelines like the revised OECD Guidance Document 150 into its regulatory processes for evaluating biocides and pesticides for potential endocrine-disrupting effects. However, current testing methods and regulations still fall short when it comes to identifying substances that interfere with the...

166 results

Publications

Motor and non-motor effects of acute MPTP in adult zebrafish: insights into Parkinson's disease

Motor and non-motor effects of acute MPTP in adult zebrafish: insights into Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been extensively used in different animal species to develop chemical models of PD. This study...

MLinvitroTox reloaded for high‑throughput hazard‑based prioritization of high‑resolution mass spectrometry data

MLinvitroTox reloaded for high‑throughput hazard‑based prioritization of high‑resolution mass spectrometry data

MLinvitroTox is an automated Python pipeline developed for high-throughput hazard-driven prioritization of toxicologically relevant signals detected in complex environmental samples through high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS). MLinvitroTox is a machine learning (ML) framework comprising 490 independent XGBoost classifiers trained on molecular fingerprints from chemical structures and target-specific endpoints from the...

Automated curation of spatial metadata in environmental monitoring data

Automated curation of spatial metadata in environmental monitoring data

Spatial data accuracy in environmental monitoring is crucial for practical large-scale data analytics and the development of AI models. In this context, spatial data is metadata and faces the same challenges as any other metadata, like missing values, false or contradicting information, formatting problems of textual data and numbers, the...

Metabolic and molecular characterization, following dietary exposure to DINCH, reveals new implications for its role as a metabolism-disrupting chemical

Metabolic and molecular characterization, following dietary exposure to DINCH, reveals new Implications for its role as a metabolism-disrupting chemical

Plastic materials are ubiquitous, leading to constant human exposure to plastic additives such as plasticizers. There is growing evidence that plasticizers may contribute to obesity due to their disruptive effects on metabolism. Alternatives like diisononylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) are replacing traditional phthalates such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which are now banned due...

78 results

Deliverables

Inventory of omics data, biochemical data, other relevant readouts in public domain repositories for all PARC selected adverse outcomes

Report on the conceptual design and guidelines of the PARC Early Warning System

PARC FAIR Data Policy

Ethics report on Annual Summary Report (ASR) Y1 and assessment report for Annual Work Plan (AWP) Y2

99 results

Learning materials

Overview of HBM initiatives around the globe and brief history of HBM4EU

This presentation provides a brief overview of key human biomonitoring (HBM) initiatives worldwide, offering insight into their scope and objectives. It includes a short introduction to the HBM4EU project, highlighting its role in coordinating efforts across Europe to advance the use of HBM in environmental health research and policymaking.

Blood and urine: sample collection, storage and aliquoting

This presentation focuses on the use of blood and urine as primary biological media in HBM, outlining key characteristics of selected biomarkers in each matrix. It provides practical guidance on sample collection methods, highlighting potential pitfalls and necessary contingencies. Strategies for aliquoting and storage are discussed in detail, emphasising the...

Concepts and principles of HBM

This presentation focuses on the concept and principles of Human Biomonitoring, specifically the classification and application of biomarkers, distinguishing between those used for exposure assessment, susceptibility evaluation, and research purposes. Highlights how the selection of specific biomarkers can provide insights into bioavailability and bioactivation over time, making them valuable tools...

Serum biomarkers in asbestos related diseases

Focuses on the health risks associated with asbestos exposure, emphasizing its link to a range of diseases including asbestosis, pleural conditions, and multiple forms of cancer. Highlights malignant mesothelioma as a particularly aggressive cancer of the pleura and peritoneum, primarily caused by asbestos exposure. Discusses current challenges in diagnosing mesothelioma...

203 results

Partners

University of Coimbra

Medical University of Innsbruck

Christoph-Probst-Platz 1, Innrain 52 A, Fritz-Pregl-Straße 3, 6020

University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine

Taborska Ulica 8, 2000

University of Antwerp

Prinsstraat 13, 2000

251 results

Laboratories

Group for Reproductive, Endocrine and Environmental Toxicology (GREEN Tox) GmbH

Langackerstrasse 49 CH-8057 Zürich

ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH

Böttgerstraße 2 – 14, 65439 Flörsheim am Main

Flörsheim am Main

BioDetection Systems bv

Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig