ENDpoiNTs

Novel Testing Strategies for Endocrine Disruptors linked to Developmental Neurotoxicity

Overview: ENDpoiNTs was a Horizon2020 Research and Innovation Action project, aimed to develop novel in vivo, in vitro and in silico test methods to identify developmental neurotoxicity induced by endocrine disruption (ED-induced DNT). Prof. Joëlle Rüegg acted as project coordinator and Dr. Emmanouil Tsakoumis as project manager, whereas the EpiTox group was responsible for: a) characterising the applicability of the murine C17.2 cell line, composed of neural progenitor cells, for its use as an in vitro method for the detection of ED-induced DNT, and b) identifying epigenetic changes predicting ED-induced DNT in samples from rat hippocampus exposed to EDCs. As a whole, ENDpoiNTs significantly contributed to fulfilling the scientific, regulatory, and societal needs for improved hazard and risk assessment of EDCs.

Funding source: HORIZON-RIA, European Commission

Responsible researchers: M.D. PhD Andrea Cediel Ulloa, MSc Caroline Agrillo, Dr. Emmanouil Tsakoumis, Prof. Joëlle Rüegg

Main collaborators: Dr. Anda Gliga (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden), Assoc. Prof. Anna Forsby (Stockholm University, Sweden) & the ENDpoiNTs consortium, consisting of total 17 organisations in the EU, Switzerland, the U.S.A. and Australia