Ensuring long-term utility of the AOP Framework and knowledge for multiple stakeholders

Abstract

The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework serves as a knowledge assembly and communication tool to facilitate translation of mechanistic (e.g., molecular, biochemical, histological) data into adverse apical outcomes meaningful to chemical risk assessment. Although initially designed for ecotoxicology applications, the framework has also received extensive attention relative to chemical safety assessments for human health. Moreover, as the AOP concept and associated knowledgebases have evolved, it has become recognized that the potential stakeholder community is broader than scientists and regulators directly involved in chemical safety assessment. For example, the application of AOP-based thinking for addressing biomedical challenges has become increasingly evident. This presentation will identify various stakeholders who currently, or could potentially, benefit from application of the AOP framework and knowledge to specific needs, and describes challenges and strategies to effectively engaging these stakeholders. We also present a “roadmap” on how to maintain a viable, sustainable network to support AOP stakeholders, including recommendations for governance and coordination of AOP development and knowledge dissemination in a multi-stakeholder consortium.