Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology
This session focuses on reproductive and developmental toxicology, examining how chemical agents, drugs, and environmental exposures affect fertility, pregnancy, embryonic development, and long-term offspring health. The session will highlight the biological mechanisms underlying teratogenicity, gonadotoxicity, and reproductive system toxicity, including disruption of hormonal pathways, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modifications. Participants will learn how individual biological factors such as genetics, age, nutritional status, and pre-existing medical conditions influence susceptibility to reproductive and developmental toxicants. The session will cover preclinical models, in vitro assays, and in vivo studies used to assess reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as clinical monitoring and biomarker strategies for risk evaluation in humans. Case studies will illustrate the consequences of exposure to drugs, industrial chemicals, and environmental toxins during critical periods of development, emphasizing strategies to prevent adverse outcomes, optimize maternal-fetal health, and ensure safe therapeutic use during pregnancy and lactation. Regulatory and ethical considerations, including risk assessment, labeling, and guidelines for drug use in reproductive populations, will be discussed to support evidence-based decision-making. Emerging trends, such as the application of genomics, epigenomics, and computational modeling, will be highlighted for their potential to enhance predictive accuracy and guide safer drug and chemical development. By integrating biological, clinical, and regulatory perspectives, this session aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand, monitor, and mitigate reproductive and developmental risks, ultimately safeguarding maternal and child health while supporting therapeutic innovation.