Validation study of in vitro methods for the detection of thyroid disruptors, Part 2 - Relevance

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are of increasing concern in society.

The combined effects on human health and on the environment are still unclear, but there are strong indications about reproductive effects as well as increased cancer incidence.

To determine the possible effect of a specific chemical, well evaluated and generally accepted test methods are a prerequisite and are obtained by the process of validation. In the EU, test method validation of novel non-animal test methods is coordinated by EURL ECVAM.

To meet the need for test methods targeting the T modality in the EATS strategy, they have launched the Thyroid validation study encompassing the evaluation of 17 different test methods for thyroid disruption performed in 14 different EU Netval laboratories.

In part 1 of the study, the methods will be finalized, set up to be GLP compatible and WLR will be evaluated with a subset of chemicals.

In part 2, successful methods from part 1 will be fully validated with the aim to be incorporated in a testing strategy.

RISE will evaluate the method AUR-TPO, first developed and presented by US EPA, and here adopted to an animal-free source of thyroid peroxidase.

This proposal covers funding for the work planned for year 2021, encompassing the final work in part 1 and most of the work expected in part 2 of the study.