New approach methodologies (NAMs) for improved developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) assessment with focus on endocrine disruption – a PARC project
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are implicated in adverse developmental and reproductive outcomes, yet their identification remains a major challenge in chemical safety assessment. Current testing strategies rely heavily on animal models, which are constrained by ethical concerns, interspecies differences, and limited mechanistic resolution but justified by the complexity of the endocrine system and its physiology. Capturing the complex biology of intact organisms and incorporating toxicokinetic properties in alternative test methods is challenging. To address this, the European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) is advancing the development and regulatory integration of new approach methodologies (NAMs). This project specifically contributes by developing and validating human-relevant NAMs to identify key aspects of endocrine disruption relevant to developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART). Key innovative activities include predictive modeling, refinement of zebrafish and amphibian embryo assays, and establishment of advanced <i>in vitro</i> systems for assessing toxicity in the oocyte, testis, placenta, and brain. By combining mechanistic insights with multi-modality and high throughput testing strategies, this work aims to improve the predictive power and regulatory utility of NAMs for ED identification within the One Health paradigm.
Authors
- Iva Sovadinová (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0627-243X)
- François Brion (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2341-4196)
- Selma Hurem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5379-3305)
- Yoni Baert
- Rikke Poulsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0475-9834)
- Lucia Coppola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3543-1276)
- Katharina Koch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9994-6204)
- Joëlle Rüegg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6580-9201)
- Hanna Katarina Lilith Johansson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9526-6837)
- Katerina Papageorgiou
- Winfried Neuhaus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6552-7183)
- Elvis Genbo Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4414-1978)
- Mathew Van de Pette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1423-5957)
- Jonathan Blum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2058-0511)
- Phuong Ngoc Thi
- N. Nikolov
- Anna Kjerstine Rosenmai
- Eliška Řehůřková
- Jacob Ardenkjær-Skinnerup (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6974-6490)
- Jean-Baptiste Fini
- Ellen Fritsche
- Louise Ramhøj
- Sabrina Tait
- Jan Ludvig Lyche
- Lucia Vergauwen
- Miriam Naomi Jacobs
- Eva Bay Wedebye
- Atika Nurani
- Lola Bajard
- Dries Knapen
- Terje Svingen
- Henrik Holbech
Institutions
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Danube Private University (AT)
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AT)
- National Museum of Natural History (US)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- Environment Agency (GB)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Masaryk University (CZ)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Leibniz Institute of Environmental Medicine (DE)
- National Institute of Health (AM)
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NO)
- Technical University of Denmark (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Toxicology
- Published
- 2026-02-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2026.1736963
- Primary Topic
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- European Commission
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Vlaamse regering
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme