EIRIS
Endocrine-disruption-Induced Endometriosis and Reconstruction of Integrated Signaling
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting about one in ten women, yet its causes remain largely unknown. Growing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to endocrine-disruptive chemicals, such as bisphenols, phthalates, and dioxins, may disturb hormonal and immune signaling, contributing to the onset or progression of the disease. The EIRIS project combines large-scale literature mining, and molecular biology to uncover how these chemicals affect endometrial cells at the molecular level. By integrating results from published studies, public omics databases, and new laboratory experiments, EIRIS builds the first mechanistic map of chemical-induced endometriosis. This open, data-driven framework aims to clarify disease mechanisms, identify biomarkers of chemical effect, and support the development of safer chemicals and non-animal methods for risk assessment, advancing both women’s health and regulatory toxicology.
COMPASS
COMPrehensive framework for dAta-driven chemical teSting Solutions
Chemical safety assessment is moving away from animal testing, but the regulatory uptake of non-animal methods (NAMs) is slowed by the lack of frameworks that connect mechanistic data to decision-making. COMPASS responds to this challenge by establishing a comprehensive, data-driven framework that connects mechanistic evidence from NAMs with Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), creating a foundation for predictive, human-relevant, and cross-species safety assessment. A central aim is to enable the transparent selection of the most informative test systems and the design of minimal yet high-impact testing strategies, ensuring that complex biological mechanisms are captured. By addressing urgent regulatory needs the project will demonstrate how mechanistic insight can be harnessed for endpoints where current assessment tools are insufficient. In doing so, the project strengthens the scientific basis of regulatory decision-making, accelerates the transition away from animal testing, and contributes to the European Green Deal’s ambition of a toxic-free environment and a globally competitive, sustainable chemical sector.
