4-year Fellowship - endpoint toxicity for a mixture of chemicals

This research project being tendered links to the FSA Strategy 2022-2027. This strategy is based around the FSA’s mission, food you can trust, alongside three key pillars: food is safe; food is what it says it is; food is healthier and more sustainable.

The proposed project focuses on the first pillar, that food is safe, and by generating a new scientific case study focused on the assessment of mixtures of chemicals using in-silico and in-vitro New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), it will enable us to further protect consumers from chemical hazards and enable consumers to be empowered to make informed choices around the food that they eat.

The Chemical, Radiological and Allergy (Food Hypersensitivity) Research and Evidence Programme (ChemRA REP) is a wider programme of work, under which this research project will sit. This research programme covers one of the FSAs Areas of research interest | Food Standards Agency (ARI) and sits under research priority two: chemical, radiological, and food hypersensitivity risks. Chemicals are present in food and feed whether they are added intentionally, the result of contamination, malicious intent, or simply naturally occurring.

The main aim of this Research Programme is to conduct research on these chemicals, which may be present in food and feed.

This research aligns with the FSA’s second Area of Research Interest on chemicals, specifically addressing the question: What new analytical tests or novel approach methods can we use to assess these hazards and their impact on consumers?’. The goal of this project is to use in-silico and in-vitro NAMs to assess the hazards from chemical mixtures in food, and their impact on consumers, from assessing human relevant endpoints. The project also aims to develop cross government collaboration by aiming to improve data systems, encourage collaborative working, and enhance scientific capability across government departments.