Proper Exposure Assessment is key for evaluating/deriving: 1) human and environmental risks, 2) human and environmental safety limits and 3) effect of concentrations from in vivo & in vitro assays. IRAS UU has expertise on both
- qualitative and quantitative exposure assessment based on processes, experiments and modelling
- internal and external exposure to subjects for instance humans, organisms (animals, plants), cells, specific targets (e.g. membranes)
- environmental exposure; in the environment itself, in the lab working space and
- specific (hazardous) agents like physical - radiation, sound, particulate matter, viruses and bacteria.
The Immunotoxicology department within IRAS examines immunosensitization and immunomodulation (i.e. induction of inflammation) by various agents, including drugs, environmental chemicals/pollutants and food components. Research done in the immunotoxicology group of IRAS aims to provide fundamental insight in immunosensitizing and immunomodulating effects of compounds. This insight will help to define early indicators of immunosensitizing potential of compounds (e.g. pharmaceuticals or new foods) that can be included in new and existing predictive models. On the other hand knowledge on the immunomodulating capacity of compounds will contribute to development of prophylactic measures or therapies. Ongoing projects:
- Therapeutic approaches for food allergy
- Mechanisms of drug hypersensitivity
- Environmental factors and health of the mucosal immune system
- Risk evaluation of ultrafine (nanosize) ambient particulate matter
