About ToxBank

ToxBank is a reference infrastructure project whose activities include the development of the ToxBank Data Warehouse (TBDW), the selection of reference gold compounds to support a mode-of-action framework, and resources to support the reliable use of qualified chemcials, biomaterials and protocols.

ToxBank Data Warehouse

The ToxBank Data Warehouse provides a public web-accessible shared repository of know-how and experimental results in predictive toxicology. The information within the warehouse is uploaded from the research activities of participants as well as relevant data and protocols from other sources, such as public databases containing toxicogenomics data. 

ToxBank Gold Compounds Wiki

The underlying assumption is that we can identify Models of Action (MOAs) that are demonstrably relevant to human toxicity based on existing knowledge such as from adverse events of marketed drugs in humans. Goal then becomes to establish in vitro assays to characterize and represent these MOAs. A limitation of an MOA-based strategy is that our understanding of MOAs for even the best-known toxicants is incomplete. The challenge and the opportunity are to select compounds that will enable us to increase our understanding of MOAs. Approved compound-related information is made publically available through the ToxBank wiki.

Biomaterials Resources

The ToxBank cell and tissue bank provides an important open source service to identify suitable sources of cell lines that will meet scientific criteria, ensure compliance with EU and national regulations and provide assays which can be taken up by industry without delays or blocks due to adverse constraints on commercial exploitation. This work utilizes standards recently developed as consensus amongst stem cell scientists and biobanks. The standards established are used to develop evaluation criteria for suppliers of stem cell lines. Data from these suppliers are used to demonstrate compliance with best practices.