A relatively new concept in ecological risk assessment is that of an adverse outcome pathway (AOP), which depicts links between a molecular initiating event in an organism and subsequent key events that are necessary to elicit an adverse effect upon a population.  As such, an AOP spans multiple levels of biological organization while mechanistic models in ecology and toxicology tend to focus upon a particular level of biological organization.  Historically, mechanistic models have been used in different ways to facilitate risk assessment, however, as AOPs are developed it would be beneficial to develop corresponding biologically based, mechanistic models.  These models would provide a theoretical framework to facilitate e.g., a reduction in animal testing, in-vitro to in-vivo extrapolation, or to evaluate different chemical ligand-receptor binding affinities and their ultimate impact upon a population.  This presentation will examine current research challenges in developing mechanistic models and methodology in support of AOPs.

Mechanistic models and adverse outcome pathways: Research needs for risk assessment

248th National Meeting (2014)

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