Author Archives: ToxStrategies

EpidStrategies is excited to be participating in the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually on December 5-8, 2020. 

Xiaohui Jiang will have a virtual poster during the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Their presentation of the poster will be available from 7:30 am–3:30 pm PST. 

 The poster is titled, “Medically attended anxiety and depression is increased among newly diagnosed patients with cold agglutinin disease (CAD).” 

 This year’s ASH accepted abstracts are open access. Click here to view their abstract. 

 Registration for the annual meeting is now open to ASH members, as well as to non-members. Register here.  

ToxStrategies scientists Dr. Mark Harris, Dr. Deborah Proctor, and Dr. Chad Thompson are among the authors of a recently published study that proposes a cytotoxicity-mediated adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for small intestinal tumors by leveraging extensive target species- and site-specific molecular, cellular, and histological mode of action research for three reference chemicals, the fungicides captan and folpet and the transition metal hexavalent chromium. This AOP supports that duodenal tumors in mice occur secondary to chronic villous enterocyte cytotoxicity and regenerative repair-driven proliferation. 

 This study, published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, is titled “An adverse outcome pathway for small intestinal tumors in mice involving chronic cytotoxicity and regenerative hyperplasia: a case study with hexavalent chromium, captan, and folpet.” 

 https://doi.org/10.1080/10408444.2020.1823934 

Dr. Naushin Hooda, an EpidStrategies Doctor of Pharmacy based in Toronto, will participate in a virtual panel discussion as part of the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association Women in Pharmacy Leadership Empowerment Panel, sponsored by Amgen. The five-person panel will focus on “Social Capital: Strategic Networking for Women in Leadership” during the event on November 18, 2020, 11:00–12:30 pm ET. There is no charge to those interested in listening in: register here.

Dr. Hooda has a clinical and research background in pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical development in both the Canadian and US marketplaces.

ToxStrategies scientist, Dr. Laurie Haws was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Toxicology Forum. The Toxicology Forum is a leading international toxicology organization that strives to promote open and deliberative dialogue to build understanding among government agencies, industry, academia, policymakers, and public interest groups to shape decision making and outcomes on critical issues in toxicology and its applications.

Dr. Haws will serve a vice president of the Toxicology Forum for the upcoming year.

Congratulations Laurie!

ToxStrategies authors, Dr. Daniele Wikoff and Dr. Allison Franzen, and colleagues have published a framework for use of systematic mapping and systematic reviews in determining hazard, developing toxicity values, and characterizing uncertainty. It provides a stepwise and adaptive approach to apply evidence-based methods for the facilitation of risk assessment.

This framework, published in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, is titled “Facilitation of risk assessment with evidence-based methods – A framework for use of systematic mapping and systematic reviews in determining hazard, developing toxicity values, and characterizing    uncertainty.”

ToxStrategies scientist, Dr. Laurie Haws, will be presenting in a virtual session at the upcoming Science of PFAS: Chemistry, Health, and Multimedia Measurements virtual conference sponsored by the Air & Waste Management Association.  Dr. Haws’ presentation, titled “Risk Characterization of PFAS-Challenges and Opportunities,” will be live streamed on September 15, 2020, during the PFAS Health Effects session at 12:45-2:45 EST.  In addition to live-stream access, all presentations will be available to meeting registrants through the end of the year.

EpidStrategies scientists have collaborated with toxicologists from ToxStrategies’ Biopharmaceuticals/Pharmaceuticals Practice to produce a white paper that provides “Critical insights into nonclinical toxicology and real-world evidence essential for a successful rare disease product launch.” The paper summarizes how well-designed nonclinical studies, coupled with an understanding of the epidemiology and natural history of the condition, can support a clinical program in the rare disease arena.

ToxStrategies scientists published a GLP OECD designed reproductive toxicity study (Thompson et al., 2020) assessing the potential for adverse follicular effects in mice following exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in drinking water. This study demonstrated that reproductive toxicity was limited to extremely high doses that are not environmentally-relevant. At Cr(VI) doses consistent with, and substantially higher than, the basis for the California Proposition 65 Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL), no effects are observed, supporting that the MADL should be re-evaluated.

Thompson CM, Donahue DA, Hobbs C, Costecalde Y, Franzen A, Suh M, Proctor DM, Harris MA. 2020. Exposure to environmentally-relevant concentrations of hexavalent chromium does not induce ovarian toxicity in mice. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 116(Oct):104729 (open access):