Members of the division June 2025.
Location, O2 Building, VU Amsterdam. [Other group photos]

The Division of Molecular Toxicology is specialised in developing human in vitro (non-animal) based strategies for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of chemical-induced toxicity in order to better predict chemical safety in humans. The laboratory is specialised in human cell culture, metabolism, toxicity determination and omic analysis. In vitro models include human primary cells, human cell lines and induced human Pluripotent Stem Cell derived cells.

Our research has the following focus points:

# induced pluripotent stem cell generation and differentiation into renal, liver, cardiac, immune and vascular lineages
# cell culture optimisation and microfluidic systems
# mitochondrial imaging and activity
# Xenobiotic metabolism and transport (including the influences of polymorphisms);
# Molecular mechanisms of chemical- induced cellular perturbations using human based in vitro models (including liver, kidney, endothelial and cardiac cells);



What is toxicology ? Toxicology is the study of poisons and their effects on cellular systems. However, everything is poisionous, it is the dose that makes something a poison. [read more]

Address: Division of Molecular Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Floor 3, O|2 building. [ Google map link ] email p.jennings@vu.nl, e.v.langemeijer@vu.nl

Announcements

Lenya strikes again and wins the best PhD presentation at the NVT 2025. Congrats Lenya ! 🎈 Latest TABASAS podcast on Douglas Adams.

The Moltox Team

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Senior Scientific Staff

PhD Candidates

Prof. Dr. Paul Jennings (chair) Dr. Chris Vos Dr. Anja Wilmes Dr. Sofia Moco Dr. Ellen Langemeijer Dr. Thaís Silva Pinto   Vidya Chandrasekaran   Technical Staff Daniel Da Costa Pereira Jasmijn Hundscheid Affiliated Dr. Tugce Su Dr. Daan Geerke Dr. David A. Poole

in the lab Victoria Pozo Garcia {Moco, RISKHUNT3R} Lenya de Brouwer {Wilmes, VHP4SAFETY} Olivia Klatt (Wilmes, EFSA) Fan Yang (Moco) Valentina Ferro (Moco) Fanny Beekman (Moco, with iHLS, J. van Muijlwijk-Koezen) Danielle Gramsbergen (Moco, with A-Life, J. van Heerden) David Heiler {Jennings, CHIASMA} Michaela Venter {Jennings, CHIASMA} Mengqiu Zhang {Moco, FERMI} data analysis Emma Sturic submitted or in submission Tamara Meijer Cormac Murphy Vidya Chandrasekaran Rosa Luirink moltox II - Alumni Dr. Giada Carta - Detection And Characterisation Of Chemical Induced Mitochondrial Perturbations utilising human in vitro models Dr. Liliana Capinha - Application of new approach methodologies in molecular toxicology: A case study on metabolism and cellular stress responses from glutathione conjugation products of trichloroethylene Dr. Koen Visscher Calibration of next generation first-principle derived polarizable force fields Dr. Sandra Ortega Ugalde A new target for an old enemy Dr. Eko Rifai Applicability and performance of linear interaction energy based binding affinity calculation Dr. Angelina Huseinovic Mistaken identity: Paracetamol induces amino acid starvation through mimicry of tyrosine and changes ubiquitin homeostasis Dr. Stefan Dekker Characterization of biotransformation enzymes involved in Adverse Drug Reactions.

Video Section

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Publications All Publications [ Link ] Recent publications Human and rat renal proximal tubule in vitro models for ADME applications Transcriptomic changes and mitochondrial toxicity in response to acute and repeat dose treatment with brequinar in human liver and kidney in vitro models. Differentiation and Subculturing of Renal Proximal Tubular-like Cells Derived from Human iPSC Evaluation of the impact of iPSC differentiation protocols on transcriptomic signatures Transcriptional landscape of mitochondrial electron transport chain inhibition in renal cells

Highlights

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(hover over for details)

     
Projects

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The group is a partner in several EU level and national projects. The images and links below capture some of them.

                                  

• Chiasma 2024: Accessible Innovative Methods for the Safety & Sustainability Assessment of Chemicals & Materials. CHIASMA has received funding from the European Union s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101137613.
• RISKHUNT3R EU Horizon 2020 Grant No 964537. Hunting for chemical risks using NAMs!
• VHP4Safety. NWA-funded Virtual Human Platform 4 Safety project. started June 2021.
• Matrigel replacement project.funded by SET

        

        Its the Halk.



MolTox Duckery

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MolTox logo explained (drawn by the the talented Sam McCabe).

The logo symbolises the ability to model from biological data (the blue liver shaped centre) - in order to expand / fly to new heights of knowledge. The logo also represents the aquatic based habitat of Amsterdam. 

We hope you don't think we are quackers.

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https://moltox.chem.vu.nl                 https://www.aimms.vu.nl/