Risk analysis for products in development

Thema:
Healthy society

RAPID studies the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace, in the environment, and after intake. It develops innovative approaches for early prediction of health effects resulting from such exposure, as well as measuring, modelling, and managing exposure. We do this research within national and international legal frameworks, and we focus on earlier process phases, such as the development of new ingredients, materials, and products by means of Safe and Sustainable by Design concepts.

Health risks of hazardous substances

On the basis of RAPID, we’re increasingly modelling health risks of hazardous substances for humans in order to reduce costs and increase speed. In doing so, we combine in-depth knowledge of risk analysis and statistics with practical experience in the field of innovative experimental research. This includes research into toxicology, immune health, epidemiology, chemistry, human exposure, statistics, and modelling. For example, we’re developing integrated strategies that predict human health risks with high precision and make minimal use of animal studies.

We use the Diamonds data platform to integrate data for Life Sciences in various domains, such as risk assessments of substances, safety assessments of drug targets, and decision support systems for personalised advice.

Our expertise

The focus of RAPID is to demonstrate whether innovations work to a sufficient degree (proof of principle), and to deliver a first application, in which the working principle is used (proof of market). With external partners, we shape the further upscaling of a significant part of these innovations in the private market.

We’re strongly internationally oriented and focus on industrial challenges within three business sectors:

  1. chemistry
  2. pharma
  3. food

We also support governments with their research issues.

Applications and impact

Some examples of our applications with their impact on society:

  • Based on research among a large number of industry organisations, we conclude that many Dutch citizens may be exposed to nanoparticles in the workplace. These results serve as a basis for new large-scale research into nanoparticle exposure among Dutch workers.
  • We’ve shown that the concentration of allergens in foodstuffs can cause public health risks through cross-contamination. A model we developed calculates the number of consumers who have an allergic reaction to a certain concentration of an allergen in food. Our research and the international database managed by TNO, with more than 3500 sensitivity thresholds in individual patients with food allergies, form the basis for WHO/FAO advice on safe limits for allergens in food.
  • RAPID plays a leading role in developing the multidisciplinary exposome paradigm. The exposome identifies multifactorial health stressors, resulting from multiple and lifelong exposure, in relation to health effects. The exposome is taking on an increasingly significant role in determining/measuring health and developing strategies for health interventions.
  • RAPID has developed a digital text-mining application called Target Tri to help pharmaceutical companies with the early selection of new drug targets. Target Tri can quickly establish the safety and effectiveness of targets.

Connecting the dots for effective disease prevention

Read our white paper on how environmental exposures are a major risk factor for disease.

Get inspired

24 resultaten, getoond 6 t/m 10

International Women's Day

Informatietype:
Insight
8 March 2023

Celebrating International Women's Day. Diversity is essential to innovate in today’s world. Different perspectives are needed to enrich our work, to make it stand out and to address the challenges we face in our time.

Discover hybrid working 2.0: virtual meetings in the metaverse

Informatietype:
Insight
26 January 2023

Positive experiences of remote working are leading us to insights for new innovations. Our latest innovation: work meetings in the metaverse.

Personalised food conveniently delivered to your home

Informatietype:
Insight
23 January 2023

MixMasters develops, manufactures, and packages personalised health food and sports supplements. They try to bring healthy food to their customers in innovative ways and focus mainly on the sports and health industry.

Group Care for pregnant women: A game changer for maternal and child care

Informatietype:
Insight
20 December 2022

Approximately 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Group care breaks the vicious circle of poor quality and inadequate utilization of services by offering care that addresses health holistically. It also focuses on health promotion and information and meets the needs of the end users. TNO and partners co-create strategies, learn implementation lessons and build ecosystems for learning and adaptation to bring group care to scale in seven countries.

TNO innovations addressing mental health of children

Informatietype:
Insight
9 December 2022

BoB, TNO’s methodology for teaching children resilience and stress management in South Sudan has proven successful and effective, and is ready for upscaling.