The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70993

Linda McCauley, PhD¹, Gary Rischitelli, MD, MPH, JD², Frederick Berman, DVM, PhD², and Peter Spencer, PhD, FRCPath². (1) Oregon Health Sciences University, Oregon Health Science University, CROET, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., mail code L606, Portland, OR 97239, 503-494-4273, mccauley@ohsu.edu, (2) Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd.L606, Portland, OR 97201

The last two decades of biological research have witnessed dramatic progress in understanding the molecular basis of life. Technological advancements needed to solve the structure of the human genome have established new analytical methods that enable molecular biological databases to grow exponentially. The National Center for Toxicogenomics of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is forming a relational data base to promote new understanding of biological responses to environmental stressors (pollutants,occupational chemicals, pharmaceuticals, other substances) and to identify biomarkers of exposure, toxicity and disease that can be used to protect and improve human health. Toxicogenomics is a field that aims to study the complex interaction between the cell's genome (the sum total of all genes within the chromosome), chemicals in the environment, and disease. Ultimately, this information will lead to identifying ways to reduce or prevent disease by pinpointing biochemical and molecular functions that have been perturbed by environmental chemicals. In the near future, toxicogenomics will likely impact three key areas of public health: risk assessment, exposure assessment, and understanding human susceptibility to disease. There is a need to examine the likely impact of the new technology on public health and to determine how to engage communities in understanding and benefiting from this new knowledge. This paper will discuss how these new technologies may improve public health and impact the science of toxicology, the methods by which risk assessment will be undertaken, and the long-term impact on public health.

Learning Objectives:

• Those attending this session will learn about the social and ethical implications of toxicogenomic research as well as the efforts to engage diverse segments of U.S. society in shaping the research agenda of the scientific community.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Genetics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.