NAMs and TAMs (New and Traditional Approaches and Methodologies): The Future of Laboratory-Based Environmental Health and Toxicology Research for Harm Reduction
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | Grainger Hall (9 Circuit Drive) | Field Auditorium (rm 1112)
This symposium will explore how New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and Traditional Approaches and Methodologies (TAMs) can be integrated to advance environmental health and toxicology research. Speakers will highlight emerging experimental platforms—including organoids, alternative model organisms, high-throughput screening systems, and computational tools—alongside established animal and laboratory models that have historically driven toxicology research. The symposium will focus on how combining these approaches can improve mechanistic understanding of environmental exposures, accelerate chemical risk assessment, and support harm reduction strategies for human and ecological health. By bringing together researchers working across experimental systems and disciplines, the symposium aims to foster dialogue on the future of laboratory-based toxicology in environmental health research.
This event is *FREE* to attend and open to all. Registration is required (see registration link below). We have options for both in-person and virtual attendance.
Agenda (Eastern Time)
| 8:00-8:50am | Sign in (continental breakfast provided for registered attendees) |
| 8:50-9:00am | Welcome and Opening remarks (Nishad Jayasundara) |
| 9:00-9:45am | Nicole Kleinstreuer, PhD, Deputy Director, NIH |
| 9:45-10:30 am | Warren Casey, PhD, DABT, Director, Strategic Partnerships, NIEHS |
| 10:30-10:45 am | Q&A |
| 10:45-11:00 am | Break |
| 11:00-11:25 am | Joel Meyer, PhD, Duke University Dr. Meyer will briefly discuss his perspective on the value of considering ethical aspects of toxicological research with NAMs and TAMs. Then, he will discuss general strengths and limitations of the C. elegans model in toxicological research. He will finish with some examples of neurotoxicological research in his laboratory. |
| 11:25-11:50 am | Stephanie Padilla, PhD, US EPA, Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill Dr. Padilla will cover the pros and cons of using a NAM (zebrafish [Danio rerio]) to identify chemicals that may be toxic to the nervous system of multiple species using examples from her own research, as well as research from others. |
| 11:50-12:15 pm | Nishad Jayasundara, PhD, Duke University Dr. Jayasundara will present how zebrafish models are used to investigate developmental kidney toxicity of metal mixtures derived from NHANES data on pregnant mothers, alongside parallel, complementary exposure studies in kidney organoids and mice. He will highlight how integrating NAMs and TAMs provides a cross-system framework to identify conserved and system-specific mechanisms of toxicity and to define biologically informed thresholds for metal mixture risks to kidney development. This work is part of a multi-institutional collaboration supported by the NIEHS-funded ViCTER consortium. |
| 12:15 -1:15 pm | Lunch |
| 1:15-1:40 pm | Caren Weinhouse, PhD, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences Dr. Weinhouse will present three case studies to illustrate the relative strengths of TAMs and NAMs in exploring critical questions in epigenetic toxicology/studies of epigenetic memory formation. First, she will highlight a naturally occurring epigenetic memory at the Cyp1a gene in a population of wild killifish with developed tolerance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This example demonstrates the importance of natural experiments in wild animals for discovery science in epigenetic toxicology. Second, she will demonstrate that developmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) increases risk to adult liver disease via early life formation of epigenetic memories at estrogen receptor target genes that reduce protective estrogen signaling in liver over the life-course. This example shows the importance of performing experiments linking early exposure events to adult health outcomes in animal models with human-like developmental stages to inform NAMs that capture these critical outcomes. Third, she will show that even homogenous cell populations show wide variation in formation of epigenetic memories, raising important questions about translating in vitro data to whole organ and whole organism outcomes. This example shows the interdependence of NAMs and TAMs to expand our understanding of biology and the power of leveraging both to inform biomarker-based assays to report on the human exposome. |
| 1:40-2:05 pm | Richard Di Giulio, PhD, Duke University Dr. Di Giulio will highlight insights from 20+ years of ITEHP trainee-led research investigating a case of pollution-driven evolution in a population of killifish inhabiting a highly PAH-contaminated estuary in Virginia. This research demonstrates unique insights that studies of free-living organisms can provide. Moreover, NAMs provide critical tools for elucidating mechanisms and making cross species extrapolations. |
| 2:05-2:30 pm | Ke Dong, PhD, Duke University Dr. Dong will talk about the in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological approaches and methodologies used in her lab to study insecticide modes of action, resistance and selectivity, and share her group’s recent findings on voltage-gated sodium channels as targets of insecticides and repellents. |
| 2:30-2:45 pm | Break |
| 2:45-3:10 pm | Ed Levin, PhD, Duke University Dr. Levin will discuss the great advantages of using a full set of complementary research tools in our continuing effort for better understanding of toxicological risks, from mechanisms to meaning in order to develop more effective protections and treatments for human and environmental health. |
| 3:10 – 3:30 pm | Community discussion and refreshments |
Registration
Register for in-person attendance HERE. Registration is free, but required.
In-person registration will close at 11:45 pm Eastern on Sunday, April 26.
For our non-Duke attendees, we do have a limited number of parking passes available. If you would like to request a parking pass to attend the symposium, please contact our Event Coordinator. Passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and may run out.
Location: Grainger Hall (9 Circuit Drive), Field Auditorium (room 1112)
- Google map (Grainger Hall may appear on map as “Environment Hall”)
Virtual Registration
Register for virtual attendance HERE. Registration is free, but is required to receive the link. Virtual registration will remain open through May 5th.
Upon registration, you will receive an automated email with the livestream link. Please keep this email, as the link will not be posted publicly.
Questions?
If you have questions about this event, please contact our Event Coordinator.
Support
This symposium is supported in part by the National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under the Duke University Superfund Research Program (award P42ES010356) and the Duke University Program in Environmental Health (award T32ES021432). Symposium content is solely the responsibility of the speakers and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.