Raleigh, NC -- (SBWIRE) --05/12/2011 -- The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences (http://www.thehamner.org) has announced that it has received a $600,000 contract from the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association (NiPERA) to study the mode(s) of action for tumor induction by certain nickel compounds. The goal of the project is to complement existing data with new data to better characterize the relationship between inhalation exposure to nickel compounds and markers of human respiratory tumor response.
Studies of workers refining and processing sulfidic nickel ores have indicated an association between high inhalation exposures to certain nickel compounds and increased risk of respiratory tumors. The project will seek to address the rate at which the nickel (II) ion is absorbed or becomes available at the site of physiological activity after inhaled exposure.
The Hamner research team will be co-led by Dr. Darol Dodd, senior research toxicologist and director of Toxicology and Research Services, and Dr. Harvey Clewell, senior scientist and director of the Center for Human Health Assessment. Dr. Dodd and his team will provide toxicity data on two model nickel compounds selected by NiPERA for mode of action studies. Dr. Clewell and scientists in the Center for Human Health Assessment will use a systems biology approach based on looking at dose dependent changes in gene expression to identify the critical pathways that could lead to toxicity or cancer. This research is part of The Hamner’s specialized and ongoing inhalation toxicity studies that support health-hazard assessments of chemicals, drugs and related products.
QUOTES:
“The NiPERA award is a great opportunity for The Hamner's inhalation exposure and aerosol sciences team,” said Dodd. “The project is very much in alignment with previously conducted and current mode-of-action chemical inhalation studies that combine with the expertise of The Hamner's Center for Human Health Assessment and Institute for Chemical Safety Sciences.”
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DETAILS:
- The two nickel compounds selected for the mode of action studies are nickel sulfate hexahydrate and crystalline nickel subsulfide. Nickel sulfate hexahydrate is used in nickel plating, as a mordant in dyeing and printing textiles, as a blackening agent for zinc and brass, and in the manufacture of organic nickel salts. Nickel subsulfide is used in the manufacture of lithium batteries. Exposure to this compound mainly occurs as an intermediate formed during the refining of certain nickel ores.
- The focus of The Hamner’s research plan is to compare nickel-induced responses between in vivo inhalation studies and cellular in vitro studies and provide a mode-of-action framework for nickel toxicity.
About THE HAMNER INSTITUTES FOR HEALTH SCIENCES:
The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences is a nonprofit research organization located in the heart of Research Triangle Park (RTP), N.C. The two flagship institutes at The Hamner, the Institute for Chemical Safety Sciences and the Hamner-UNC Institute for Drug Safety Sciences, build upon 35 years of preeminent research in toxicology and human health research to develop and validate new cutting-edge tools for safety assessment. Novel technologies currently being developed include in silico models for predictive toxicology, in vitro models that utilize human cells or cell lines to evaluate perturbations of cellular responses, and in vivo models to elucidate genes that play a role in susceptibility to drug-induced toxicities. The Hamner continues to grow its open, multidisciplinary campus through global partnerships with academia, industry, and government, and remains dedicated to positively impacting human health. For more information, please visit http://www.thehamner.org.
About THE NICKEL PRODUCERS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION:
Incorporated in 1980 as a not-for-profit organization, the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association (NiPERA) was formed to develop and disseminate information on any health or environmental effects that might be associated with the production and use of nickel, its compounds and alloys. NiPERA is committed to supporting scientifically sound research and promoting general awareness of the care required in the production, handling, use, and disposal of nickel and its compounds. NiPERA is an independently incorporated division of the Nickel Institute. For more information, please visit http://www.nipera.org.
Erin Smith
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