Recognition for Chemical Insights Scientists at a Leading Toxicology Event
Scientists from Chemical Insights, a research division of UL Research Institutes, will be honored for their contributions to understanding the human health effects of chemical exposures. Their achievements will be formally recognized at the 2026 annual gathering hosted by the Society of Toxicology—a major international event that brings together experts in toxicology, risk assessment, and public health. The Annual Meeting and ToxExpo will take place in San Diego this March, providing a global stage to highlight innovative research and scientific leadership.
These recognitions underscore Chemical Insights’ broader mission: advancing scientific knowledge to better protect human health from environmental and consumer-product chemical exposures. Multiple researchers across the organization are being acknowledged for impactful publications, early-career excellence, and advances in risk-assessment science.
Early-Career Achievement Honoring Xiaojia He, Ph.D.
Among the most notable honorees is Xiaojia He, Ph.D., a research scientist in the Center for Toxicology and Human Health at Chemical Insights. Dr. He has received the 2026 Outstanding Young Toxicologist Award from the American Association of Chinese in Toxicology (AACT), supported by JOINN Biomere.
This award recognizes a toxicologist of Chinese heritage within the AACT community who has made meaningful early-career contributions to toxicology across academic, industrial, or governmental settings. Dr. He’s work exemplifies this mission through innovative research approaches that deepen understanding of chemical exposure pathways and biological responses. Receiving this distinction highlights both individual scientific excellence and the growing global diversity of leadership in toxicology research.
Paper of the Year Recognition in Molecular and Systems Biology
In addition to the early-career award, Dr. He earned further distinction from a specialty section of the Society of Toxicology focused on molecular and systems biology. She received the Paper of the Year Award for leading research titled:
“Multi-Omics Assessment of Puff Volume-Mediated Salivary Biomarkers of Metal Exposure and Oxidative Injury Associated with Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems.”
The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, represents a significant contribution to understanding the biological impacts of vaping-related exposures. By applying multi-omics techniques—integrating genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data—the research identifies biomarkers linked to metal exposure and oxidative stress in users of electronic nicotine delivery systems.
This work reflects Chemical Insights’ continuing effort to generate rigorous scientific evidence on emerging public-health concerns such as vaping. The project involved collaboration among several researchers at the organization, including Qian Zhang, Ph.D.; Maureen Meister, Ph.D.; and Patrick Chepaitis, with scientific leadership from Christa Wright, Ph.D., Senior Research Director for the Center for Toxicology and Human Health.
The Molecular and Systems Biology Specialty Section’s annual award highlights a single peer-reviewed publication that most effectively integrates advanced biological science with toxicology and risk assessment—placing Dr. He’s work among the most influential contributions of the year.
Advances in Risk Assessment Science Recognized by Specialty Section Award
Chemical Insights scientists also received recognition for another major publication addressing the challenge of evaluating chemicals that lack extensive toxicity data. The paper, “Integration of New Approach Methods for the Assessment of Data-Poor Chemicals,” appeared in Toxicological Sciences and earned the 2025 Best Published Paper Advancing the Science of Risk Assessment Award from the Society of Toxicology Risk Assessment Specialty Section.
Led by Katie Paul Friedman, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Chemical Informatics and Screening at Chemical Insights, the research demonstrates how modern alternative testing strategies and computational tools can be combined to improve safety evaluation when traditional toxicology data are limited. Coauthors included John Wambaugh, Ph.D., and Russell Thomas, Ph.D., along with collaborators from regulatory agencies worldwide—illustrating the global relevance of improved chemical-risk methodologies.
The study highlights the growing importance of “new approach methods” (NAMs), which aim to reduce reliance on animal testing while enabling faster, data-driven hazard identification. Recognition from the Risk Assessment Specialty Section signals the paper’s influence on future regulatory science and public-health protection.
Honorable Mention for Thyroid Bioactivity Research
A second 2025 publication authored by scientists now affiliated with Chemical Insights also received distinction from the Society of Toxicology. The study, “Interpretation of thyroid-relevant bioactivity data for comparison to in vivo exposures: A prioritization approach for putative chemical inhibitors of in vitro deiodinase activity,” was published in Toxicology.
This research earned an Honorable Mention for Best Paper Award from the Society’s Biological Modeling Specialty Section. The work advances understanding of how laboratory bioactivity data related to thyroid hormone disruption can be interpreted alongside real-world exposure information—helping scientists prioritize chemicals for further safety evaluation.
Drs. Wambaugh and Paul Friedman contributed to this study along with additional collaborators, further demonstrating the organization’s leadership in predictive toxicology and computational risk science.
Continued Recognition of Leadership in Toxicology
The honors associated with these publications add to Katie Paul Friedman’s previously announced Society of Toxicology Achievement Award, reinforcing her role as a leader in modern toxicological science and chemical-risk evaluation. Collectively, these recognitions highlight the depth of expertise across Chemical Insights—from early-career innovation to senior scientific leadership.
More broadly, the awards emphasize the organization’s commitment to protecting public health through interdisciplinary research, advanced analytical methods, and collaboration across academia, industry, and government. By addressing emerging exposure concerns such as vaping, improving evaluation of data-limited chemicals, and refining biological modeling approaches, Chemical Insights scientists are helping shape the future of toxicology.
Advancing Public Health Through Scientific Excellence
Recognition at the 2026 Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting reflects not only individual accomplishments but also the broader impact of sustained investment in rigorous, evidence-based research. As chemical exposures continue to evolve alongside new technologies and products, the need for innovative toxicology science remains critical.
Through award-winning publications, collaborative research programs, and leadership in next-generation risk-assessment methods, Chemical Insights scientists are contributing essential knowledge to safeguard communities and inform policy decisions worldwide. Their presence among this year’s honorees underscores the continuing importance of scientific excellence in advancing human health protection.
Source link: https://www.businesswire.com/
