Profile #2085

Profile #2085 - Austrian Research Centers GmbH - ARC - Austria

Date: 2008/06/03

Deadline: 2013/01/31

Contact

Organisation	Austrian Research Centers GmbH - ARC	Department	Toxicology
Contact person	Szameit, Dipl.-Biol. Sandra
Email	sandra.szameit@arcs.ac.at
Address	Seibersdorf
Postcode	2444	City	Seibersdorf
Country	Austria
Telephone	+43-50550-3556	Fax	+43-50550-3653
Website	www.lifesciences.at/toxicology

Organisation

Type:	Research Organisation & Universities
Is a Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME)? NO
Number of Employees	1000
Description of research activity:	We work as an international Contract Research Organization (CRO). We offer a broad spectrum of toxicological tests, e.g. short-term toxicity (acute toxicity, local tolerance, skin irritation, eye irritation, sensitization, haemocompatibility), subacute, subchronic and chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, reproduction toxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity, toxicokinetics and pharmacokinetics, histopathology, physico-chemical properties, ecotoxicity, degradability, abiotic degradation. Our research activities concentrate on in vitro methods for the identification and discrimination of toxic compounds. We study maturation in human immature dendritic cells, U937 cells, Mutz-3 cells and THP-1 cells induced by sensitizing substances. We have expertise in flow cytometry and microarray analysis. A targeted microarray specific for immunological questions was developed ("ARC immune toxicity chip") and is now used for gene expression analysis in chemical-exposed immune cells. We have been involved in international research projects concerning contact sensitization for several years. Currently, we are also involved in an international project concerning the identification of chemical respiratory sensitization in vitro. Another research focus is nanotoxicology. We established an in vitro test system to reveal the potential risk to human health of nanoparticles / ultrafine particles at the workplace. Different co-culture cell systems are exposed to the workplace atmosphere (e.g. at a shooting stand) using an in vitro exposure system (CULTEX). As endpoints, we looked at cell viability, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Former participation in an FP European project? YES
Project title / Acronym:	PERFORM (Fifth EC Framework Programme 1998 - 2002) "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources", Contract No QLK4 - 1999 - 01476; RESOLVE FP7 Health-2007
Activities performed::	RESOLVE FP7 Health: Transcriptomics, Proteomics, Epigenomics incl. microRNA, genome-wide profiling, targeted arrays

Expertise/commitment offered

Keywords specifying the expertise:	IMI Call 2008, Innovative Medicines Initiative, Improve Predictivity of Immunogenicity, in vitro APC assay, dendritic cells, microarrays, nanotoxicology, nanoparticles, in vitro co-culture system, in vitro exposure system CULTEX
Description of the expertise:	We are looking for a consortium covering IMI Call 1 "Improve Predictivity of Immunogenicity" where we could contribute as a partner. We have long-lasting expertise in employing human antigen presenting cells (APCs) for the prediction of immunogenicity of substances (until now mainly chemicals inducing Allergic Contact Dermatitis or respiratory allergies). We developed an in vitro assay for the discrimination of sensitizing and irritating chemicals: Immature Dendritic cells differentiated from peripheral blood monocytes are exposed to the test substances and maturation of the cells is observed employing flow cytometry. Changes in gene expression are analyzed employing an immune-specific DNA-microarray (´"ARC immune toxicity chip"). Additionally, we performed whole genome experiments and aim to include selected genes into the immune-specific microarray. We would now like to enlarge the assay for the testing of protein substances. With this assay, we can contribute to the IMI Call, in more detail to the following aspects: -   "Scientific input for innovative approaches to further elaborate assays and animal models" -   "In vitro: Investigating the potential of in-vitro models to predict Immunogenicity. Sharing existing tools with consortium members. Sharing novel insights into relevant areas of science (e.g. relevant components of system, limitations, innovative approaches)." Microarray analysis (transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, genome-wide profiling and the development of targeted microarrays) is the main focus of our neighbouring department (Molecular Diagnostics, Austrian Research Centers GmbH - ARC) We have experience with cell co-culture models and the in vitro exposure system CULTEX. The assessment of adverse health effects of nanoparticles / ultrafine particles at the workplace is of great interest to us.
Commitment offered	Research,Technology

Expectations

Term commitment:	Long ( > 3 years)
Expected results for your organisation:	We would like to contribute to a consortium for the first IMI Call, topic 1: "Improve Predictivity of Immunogenicity". The consortium could benefit from our in vitro assay. Gene expression analysis of dendritic cells exposed to biotherapeutica should result in specific gene expression profiles for immunogenic substances. We are interested in extending our research in nanotoxicology.