Webinar on Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) concepts and OECD Case Studies

Minimising environmental and human health risks from chemicals is a critical regulatory issue. The assessment of environmental and human health risk requires the identification, compilation and integration of information on the chemical hazards, exposure, and the relationships between exposure, dose and adverse effects.

Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) combine multiple sources of information to conclude the toxicity of chemicals. IATAs may include existing information from the scientific literature or other resources, along with newly generated data resulting from new or traditional toxicity testing methods to fill data gaps. These approaches are developed to address a specific regulatory scenario or decision context.

Discover what the event is about.

On 16 December 2022, the OECD organised a webinar to present the Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment (IATA) concepts and OECD Case Studies.

The OECD Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) Case Studies Project was created as a forum to allow stakeholders to share experiences using New Approach Methods (NAMs) to assess chemical hazards. IATAs used combinations of methods to evaluate the potential toxicity of substances and may be developed around an Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework, though AOPs are not a requirement for IATAs. IATA Case Studies are drafted by authors to address a specific regulatory decision context, submitted, and peer reviewed by a group of independent experts. Following discussion of reviewer comments, revised IATA Case Studies are published on the OECD website.

Now in the eighth annual cycle, 35 IATA Case Studies that address a variety of toxicity endpoints have been published and provide examples of how some of the most innovative approaches can be applied to chemical safety assessment. Lessons learned through the submission and review have contributed to the development of internationally harmonised OECD Test Guidelines using NAMs, including the first Defined Approach Test Guideline, and topic-specific guidance for regulators on the use of innovative approaches.

This webinar provided an overview of IATA concepts and the OECD IATA Case Studies project. In addition, speakers gave examples of IATA Case Studies submitted for review and discussed the impact of the project in their areas.

Access the presentations here.