Illuminating how chemicals affect human health.
Comparative Toxicogenomics Database

We are pleased to have been awarded a grant from the NIEHS (ES019604) to:

1. enhance the capacity to identify environment–disease connections by curating and integrating exposure data into CTD; and
2. expand the capacity for prediction, analysis, and interpretation of environment–disease networks by developing novel analysis and visualization tools that include exposure data.

This proposal responds to the needs expressed by the NIEHS and partner agencies for inclusion of exposure data when prioritizing research and performing toxicity testing. It also addresses the need for centralization of exposure data in a broader biological context, and it will provide “real-world” exposure context for data in CTD. The resulting resource will enable new opportunities for understanding and prioritizing human health effects from exposure and their underlying etiologies, and coordinate data key to enhancing the capacity for toxicity prediction and risk assessment.

This project will build on the accomplishments of our Exposure Ontology working group (made possible with support from the American Chemistry Council). This group, comprised of exposure scientists and experts in database and ontology development, developed a draft Exposure Ontology (ExO) that will have broad applications in the exposure research community.

The working group developed the ExO using a phased approach. They defined and tested major concepts through iterative curation of published literature. The root classes for the ontology are exposure event, exposure stressor, exposure receptor, and exposure outcome. The details underlying these classes are being defined, and leverage aspects of the International Society of Exposure Science and the International Programme on Chemical Safety (ISES-IPCS) glossary of terms for exposure assessment.

This version of the ontology is presented to invite community-based feedback and expansion. You may participate in its further development through the OBO Foundry or by contacting us directly.

Download the Exposure Ontology