Scientific questions raised are directly translated into effect-driven research projects within the section involving interaction between our laboratories;

• in-vitro labs (human cell-lines, CYP-metabolism, chemical transformation studies) (1, 2)
•  in-vivo labs (PHARMA animal and plant facilities and vertebrate endocrinology) (3)
•  chemical analysis (LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, radio-labelled compounds (HPLC-FSA)) (4)
• in-silico toxicology/biosimulation (5)]
• hazard and risk assessment (6, 7)

Across the laboratories, toxicologists, pharmacists, analytical chemists, biochemists and technicians carry out funded research projects involving many external national and international scientific partners. The section is continuously participating in discussions and workshops developing internationally accepted toxicological transformation and effect guidelines (EMA and DKMA).
Future research will be directed towards improved in-vitro test-strategies combined with in-vivo studies supported by novel sophisticated analytical procedures. The outcome will be better descriptions of toxicological effects at the mechanistic level of pharmaceuticals and transformation products hereof.
Such information will provide pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical regulatory bodies with renewed risk assessment methods relevant for important compound groups e.g. pharmaceuticals having endocrine side-effects.

The section provides teaching experiences on master level in Human Toxicology and Aquatic Environmental Chemistry to PHARMA students and elite students in the master education program in Environmental Chemistry & Health at UC. The major part of the teaching activities is devoted to human toxicology yielding an excellent balance between research and research based teaching.

References

1. Jacobsen, N. W.; Halling-Sørensen, B.; Birkved, F. K. Inhibition of human aromatase complex (CYP19) by antiepileptic drugs. Toxicology in Vitro 2008, 22 (1), 146-153.
2.  Nielsen, F. K.; Hansen, C.; Fey, J.; Hansen, M.; Jacobsen, N. W.; Halling-Sørensen, B.; Björklund, E.; Styrishave, B. Proof of concept: quantification of sex steroid hormones and precursors using GC-MS/MS is possible in the H295R cell line. Submitted Toxicology Sciences 2011.
3.  Soeborg, T.; Ganderup, N. C.; Kristensen, J. H.; Bjerregaard, P.; Pedersen, K. L.; Bollenc, P.; Hansen, S. H.; Halling-Sørensen, B. Distribution of the UV filter 3-benzylidene camphor in rat following topical application. Journal of Chromatography B-Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences 2006, 834 (1-2), 117-121.
4.  Krogh, K. A.; Björklund, E.; Löffler, D.; Fink, G.; Halling-Sørensen, B.; Ternes, T. A. Development of an analytical method to determine avermectins in water, sediments and soils using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Chrmoatography A 2008, 1211 (1-2), 60-69.
5. Christensen, A. M.; Markussen, B.; Baun, A.; Halling-Sørensen, B. Probabilistic environmental risk characterization of pharmaceuticals in sewage treatment plant discharges. Chemosphere 2009, 77 (3), 351-358.
6. Hansen, M.; Krogh, K. A.; Björklund, E.; Brandt, A.; Halling-Sørensen, B. Environmental risk assessment of ionophores. Trends in Analytical Chemistry 2009, 28 (5), 534-542.
7. Søborg, T.; Basse, L. H.; Halling-Sørensen, B. Risk assessment of topically applied products. Toxicology 2007, 236 (1-2), 140-148.