Hazard & Dose-Response
The Hazard and Dose-Response Specialty Group (HDRSG) was founded in 1994 as the Dose-Response Specialty Group. This group provides a venue for discussion of advancements in dose-response methodology for chemical, physical, or microbial stressors, and related work to investigate the mechanisms of toxicity, development of dosimetric extrapolation methods, and approaches for extrapolation to low levels of exposure. We also provide a space those interested in the use of in silico and in vitro methods to identify chemical hazards and the use of those systems to develop traditional chemical risk metrics.
Upcoming Webinar
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time)–Webinar registration link will be posted soon
Revolutionizing Chemical Risk Assessment: An AI-Powered Rodent Digital Twin Platform for Quantitative Toxicity Evaluation
While traditional in vivo experiments remain the backbone of risk assessment, their high cost and lengthy timelines are increasingly unsustainable. As New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) gain regulatory momentum, advanced computational models are essential for improving research efficiency. This presentation introduces a pioneering AI-based rodent digital twin platform designed to substantially enhance both speed and predictive accuracy. By leveraging chemical structures (SMILES) and exposure parameters, the platform generates simultaneous, quantitative predictions for hundreds of toxicological endpoints. We will explore the system’s architecture, discuss its validated predictive performance, and provide a live demonstration of the digital twin in action.
About the Presenter
Dr. Kan Shao is an Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Indiana University School of Public Health, where he primarily works on human health risk assessment research and education. Dr. Shao is certified by the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) and is a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (ATS). His research focuses on advancing computational and statistical modeling methods to support chemical risk assessment. Major contributions to the field include the development of the Bayesian benchmark dose (BMD) methodology, modeling frameworks to quantitatively integrate mechanistic information into dose-response assessment, and advanced computational platforms to improve the efficiency of toxicity evaluation. He has secured more than $3 million in external grants and published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers. Dr. Shao has served in various leadership roles within SRA and SOT and is currently an Associate Editor of the journal Drug and Chemical Toxicology.