Grantee Research Project Results
Integration of Biological High-Throughput Data with a Metabolic Model of a Liver Cell
EPA Contract Number: EPD06042Title: Integration of Biological High-Throughput Data with a Metabolic Model of a Liver Cell
Investigators: Fahland, Tom R.
Small Business: Geomatica, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2006 through August 31, 2006
Project Amount: $69,784
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Computational Toxicology , SBIR - Computational Toxicology , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
A large number of potentially harmful chemicals and pollutants in the environment make comprehensive experimental chemical testing cost prohibitive and unrealistic. Methods that can decrease the required experimental work and aid in the streamlining of this process would provide a valuable tool in this area. Computational cellular modeling can provide a significant improvement in linking exposure of potentially harmful chemicals to the effects those chemicals have on the metabolism of a host. With the latest advances in biological high-throughput technologies, vast amounts of data exist that represent gene expression profiles, protein interactions, and metabolite concentrations. These multivariate data sets allow the construction of detailed genome-scale metabolic network models. By using a constraint-based approach for constructing a model of liver metabolism, the effect of compound exposure can be linked to detailed mechanisms in the metabolic network. Metabolism plays a central role in the toxicological realm from how a xenobiotic compound is metabolized to determining downstream side effects. The combination of linking the results of statistical analysis of high-throughout data with a comprehensive model of liver metabolism creates a powerful tool that can have wide market appeal in many areas. From pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies to government and military institutions, a product of this type can increase productivity significantly and aid in understanding the metabolic effects of toxicity.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, chemical testing, computational cellular modeling, chemical exposure, high-throughput technologies, liver metabolism, toxicity, toxicological metabolic effects, public health, health effects, EPA,, Health, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Risk Assessments, Biochemistry, Risk Assessment, chemical exposure, metabolic study, computational cellular modeling, biological high throughput technologies, human exposure, toxicity, toxicologic assessment, biochemical research, exposure assessmentProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.