The Center for PRECLINICAL TOXICOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY includes research groups within the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology that have consolidated biochemical and toxicological skills. The coordinated activity of the Center's Researchers will be aimed at optimizing and standardizing an integrated analytical platform capable of assessing the accurate risk of compounds of various origins and exposure modes. Thanks to a wide range of highly complementary study models (from cell cultures to animals, through organ-on-chips and organoids), and a series of consolidated experimental methods, the Center aims to clarify the interaction between the compounds of interest and the host down to the sub-cellular and molecular level. The final objective is understanding potential adverse effects and their consequent impact on animal and human health. The Center also interacts transversally with the institute's various clinical, pharmacological, and environmental departments.
Objectives
• Perform preclinical toxicological studies in vitro and in vivo using representative models of physiological and pathological conditions
• Provide complementary and accessible approaches to understand the mechanism of action of the compounds under investigation.
• Study the biochemical and molecular interactions of the compounds with biological matrices.
• Support companies in defining the safety profile of materials at different stages of development of their products.
Methodological Approaches
• Characterization of the chemical-physical and morphological properties of materials
• Evaluation of the available scientific evidence on the toxicity of a compound through bibliographic searches, literature analysis, bias analysis, and meta-analysis
• Toxicological studies in 2D, 3D and organ-on-chip cellular models
• Toxicological studies in invertebrate (C. elegans) and healthy vertebrate animal models
• In vivo studies in animal models of liver, lung, and intestinal inflammation.
• Histopathological, morphological, and structural analyses
• Omics studies (genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) and computational analysis
Intercheck web: web application aimed at health professionals to support the proper prescription of drugs in the elderly.
Information service for pregnant and nursing mothers on the appropriate use of medicines.
Information service for health professionals and patients on treatment plans and rare diseases.
Information service for health professionals and patients on kidney diseases and transplants.
Information services aimed at health professionals and the general public on the correct use of drugs, side effects and interactions in the elderly.
