Systems-based analysis of the factors affecting the use of academic research in European chemical assessment and management

Academic research provides a key source of evidence to inform chemical assessment and management. However, in practice, academic peer-reviewed ecotoxicity and toxicity studies face challenges and limitations to their use. This article presents the results of a survey that collected stakeholder perspectives from across the European regulatory toxicology system. Our data show respondents are deeply divided on the extent to which chemical assessment makes use of available and relevant evidence and academic research. Using the Socio Technical Systems (STS) model as a conceptual framework, we identify a series of system-level factors that act as barriers to the uptake and use of academic research. Whilst technical factors are well-understood in the literature our analysis moves beyond established findings and highlights that such factors are often reliant, interconnected or dependent on social factors, such as a misalignment in the goals and demands of academic and regulatory knowledge production. Overcoming the barriers to the use of academic evidence demands a coordinated, systems level approach that fully considers wider social and cultural factors. We offer some initial recommendations, suggested actions for implementation and opportunities for actors across the regulatory toxicology system to increase the uptake and use of academic research in European chemical assessment and management.