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Transformation of Developmental Neurotoxicity Data into a Structure-Searchable Relational Database
Citation:
Browning, H. W., K. D. Acuff, A. S. Fix, J. F. Nash, S. A. Tozer, K. M. CROFTON, A. M. RICHARD, E. Julien, AND C. Yang. Transformation of Developmental Neurotoxicity Data into a Structure-Searchable Relational Database. Presented at TestSmart Developmental NeuroTox 2 Meeting, Reston, VA, November 12 - 14, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
The next steps are to validate the controlled vocabulary and refine the data model representations.
Description:
A database of neurotoxicants is critical to support the development and validation of animal alternatives for neurotoxicity. Validation of in vitro test methods can only be done using known animal and human neurotoxicants producing defined responses for neurochemical, neuropathological, and neurobehavioral endpoints. Consequently, the development of a neurotoxicity database is an important step in the development of neurotoxicity animal alternatives. A working group was formed to construct a publicly available, structure-searchable database to increase the understanding of relationships between chemical structure and neurotoxic activity. The goals of this working group are to develop a database that will: 1) develop a knowledge-base to support the development of in vitro and in silico methods for neurotoxicity assessment; 2) enable data mining of biological and chemical information in relation to neurotoxicity; 3) provide a foundation for making chemical inferences and safety assessments. To date, the working group has accomplished several major goals in the development of the database. First, a preliminary data standard was developed using the relational ToxML data model. Second, a set of database fields and controlled vocabulary terms for neurotoxicity were developed, building on the database fields and controlled vocabulary used with the ILSI RF prototype Developmental Toxicity database. The initial effort concentrated on developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) studies as the most complex examples of neurotoxicity data. Third, using this initial controlled vocabulary, a prototype version of a data entry tool was developed to capture neurotoxicity data. Populating the initial data standard with small sample of published studies is currently underway.