Research Trends in Toxicology

Are you curious about how chemicals impact human health and the environment? Do you want to be at the forefront of innovations shaping the future of toxicology? This advanced course is designed for students eager to explore cutting-edge research, modern techniques, and the evolving landscape of toxicology.

Building on fundamental toxicological principles, this course focuses on mechanistic toxicology and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)—state-of-the-art tools that enhance chemical safety assessments, reduce reliance on animal testing, and improve our ability to predict toxic effects. Throughout the course, we will explore topics such as toxicogenomics, epigenetics, modern omics techniques, high-throughput screening, computational toxicology, advanced stem cell-based models, and the application of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) as a mechanistic framework that links molecular and cellular events to adverse health and environmental effects.

A key highlight of this course is its emphasis on the exposome, a concept that considers the totality of environmental exposures over a lifetime and their interactions with biological systems. Understanding the exposome provides deeper insights into chemical mixtures, emerging contaminants, and gene-environment interactions, helping us tackle pressing challenges in environmental and human health.

What You Will Gain:

🔬 Exposure to modern experimental techniques through lectures and demonstrations

📊 Critical evaluation skills through peer-reviewed literature, journal clubs, and discussions

💡 Insight into how toxicologists address real-world health and environmental challenges

🌍 Ethical perspectives, including the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in research

📝 The opportunity to develop and present your own innovative, hypothesis-driven research proposal

Whether you are considering a career in toxicology, environmental science, drug safety and development, regulatory affairs, or biomedical research, this course will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and mindset of a modern toxicologist.

Join us and be part of the next generation driving advancements in chemical safety, risk assessment, and environmental health!



Teaching Format

Course includes lectures, quizzes and case studies, workshop exercises, presentations and discussions.


Assessment

Assessment takes place through ongoing examinations, seminars and written and oral presentation of project work in the form of a research application.

Rights and responsibilities
Your rights and responsibilities as a student

Examiner

The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.


Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.


Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.







Study counsellors

studeranu@aces.su.se

Course coordinator

Oskar Karlsson, Oskar.Karlsson@aces.su.se
Department of Environmental Science, Unit of Exposure & Effects