Webinar on NanoEHS: Nanoinformatics and Modeling

Introduction

• Host: Todd Luxton, Research Chemist at the EPA
• Topic: What we Know about nanoEHS: Nanoinformatics and Modeling
• Focus on environmental health and safety of engineered nanomaterials
• Importance of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in sharing information

Panel of Speakers

1. Andrea Haase
   • Head of Fibre- and Nanotoxicology Unit, German Institute of Risk Assessment
   • Expertise in integrating nanomaterials into EU regulatory frameworks.
2. Stacey Harper
   • Professor of Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University
   • Focus on rapid testing strategies for nanomaterials and nanoplastics.
3. Fred Klaessig
   • Manager of Pennsylvania Bio Nano Systems, co-chair of US-EU Databases for NanoEHS Community.
4. Robert Rallo
   • Director at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
   • Research interests in data-driven analysis and modeling of complex systems.

Andrea Haase's Presentation: "What do we know about nanoinformatics?"

Nanosafety Overview

• Nanomaterials are widely used in various applications, posing characterization and dosimetry challenges.
• Complexity of nanomaterials necessitates modern data-driven approaches for hazard and risk assessment.
• Need for FAIR data infrastructure (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to manage data effectively.

Challenges in Data Management

• Relevant information hard to find and evaluate due to fragmented datasets and poor metadata.
• Importance of enriching datasets with metadata and ensuring accessibility.

NanoREG2 Project

• Development of a nanosafety data interface based on eNanoMapper.
• Aims to create a comprehensive nanosafety database with high FAIR scores.
• Linking omics data to better assess nanosafety.

Gov4Nano Project

• Establishing a FAIR data ecosystem for broader access to reliable data.
• Ongoing initiatives to standardize metadata and provide analytical tools for data interpretation.

Stacey Harper's Presentation

Leveraging NanoEHS Research

• Reflection on 15-20 years of nanoEHS research and its implications for new materials, particularly nanoplastics.
• Discussion of challenges in data collection and the need for standardized data formats for nanomaterials.
• Importance of understanding transformations of materials throughout their life cycle.

Fred Klaessig's Presentation

Role of Dissolution in Risk Assessment

• Examination of how dissolution can simplify toxicological assessments.
• Discussion of regulatory perspectives and differences in the evaluation of nanoparticles across regions.
• Importance of understanding the physiological conditions under which dissolution occurs.

Robert Rallo's Presentation

Computational Modeling in Nanoinformatics

• Advances in modeling techniques and the need for reproducibility in model results.
• Importance of domain awareness for creating accurate models.
• The need to integrate modeling with experimental data for better insights into nanomaterials.

Panel Discussion

• Key Bottlenecks: Data fragmentation, poor metadata, and the need for standardized approaches.
• Current Successes: Advances in computational modeling and data sharing initiatives.
• Future Directions: Emphasis on open access to datasets and the need for quality standards in data collection.
• Environmental Health Considerations: Need for well-documented measurements of dissolution and toxicity for regulatory purposes.

Conclusion

• Importance of collaboration across research and regulatory bodies to improve nanosafety data accessibility.
• Encouragement to continuously evolve approaches to meet the challenges of evolving nanomaterials and their implications.