Netherlands Toxicogenomics Centre Maastricht University

The Netherlands Toxicogenomics Centre (NTC), led by Prof. J.C.S. Kleinjans of the Department of Toxicogenomics at Maastricht University, has been initiated by the Netherlands Genomics Initiative with the particular purpose to integrate ‘omics technologies. This integration occurs at two levels:

1. NTC applies the full breath of “wet bench” ‘omics technologies, covering analyses of whole genome gene expression, microRNA regulation and epigenomics by applying microarray technologies and next generation sequencing methods, of proteomics by means of mass spectrometry, of metabolomics by means of NMR and mass spectrometry, and of functional genomics by means of life cell imaging, in order to utilize read-outs from multiple ‘omics platforms for achieving a better and in depth understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying toxic modes-of action
2. NTC applies a wide range of ‘dry bench” technologies comprising bioinformatics, biostatistical and visualisation techniques, to achieve the actual integration of data delivered by multiple ‘omics platforms

NTC aims at integrating multiple ‘omics technologies for the purpose of applying obtained mechanistic insight to developing non-animal-based cellular models for better predicting human toxicity, in particular chemical carcinogenesis, immunotoxicity, reproduction toxicity, neurotoxicity, intestinal toxicity and livertoxicity, thereby replacing current animal models for assessing chemical safety.

For more information: http://www.toxicogenomics.nl/Home