BTS Skills Gap training modules
The draft timetable of training modules for 2025 and 2026 within the BTS Skills Gap Initiative is shown below.
The 2025 training modules will be presented by experts from industry, academia and regulatory authorities, and are intended provide more in-depth training in areas of interest. The first training module will also be repeated this year.
Registration for each module is open, with a registration cost of £250 per module. A certificate of attendance will be provided on completion of a module.
Please note that timings and content detail may be subject to change. Modules have a registration limit, and also require a minimum number of participants to go ahead.
For further information, please contact meetings@thebts.org
| Core Module 1 (repeat) | Introduction to the principles of regulatory toxicology: present and future |
| This introductory module takes a critical approach to the conduct and interpretation of toxicity studies in light of risk assessment, emphasising the need to employ a flexible approach in order to maximise understanding of toxicity and relevance to human risk assessment across different industry sectors and regulatory principles.
The module will be delivered as six 2-hour webinars in June and July 2025, with an in‑person workshop to be held in London in September 2025. Delegates will have access to recordings of all webinars. Webinar 1 INTRODUCTION TO REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY Overview of regulatory toxicology, its aims and purpose – Charlotte Thorpe, HSE Overview of hazard and risk assessment, including classification and labelling – Dr Susy Brescia, HSE Summary of the current situation and potential future changes in regard to animal testing and NAMs – Dr Camilla Alexander-White, RSC Q&A session – All speakers Webinar 2 ACUTE TOXICITY, IRRITATION & SENSITISATION Acute oral and dermal toxicity studies – Hayley Parker, Labcorp Acute inhalation toxicity – Dr Jo Kilgour, Mereside Toxicology Consulting Irritation & sensitisation studies – Claire Elliott, Penman Consulting Q&A session – All speakers Webinar 3 GENOTOXICITY Genotoxicity studies: introduction, general principles – Dr Katherine Chapman, Swansea University The use of (Q)SAR as a predictor of genotoxicity – Dr Alex Cayley, Lhasa Limited Mechanisms of genotoxicity, implications for risk assessment – Dr Paul Fowler, FStox Q&A session – All speakers Webinar 4 REPEATED DOSE TOXICITY & CARCINOGENICITY Repeated dose toxicity: general principles – Dr Meera Cush, Ramboll Carcinogenicity studies – Helen-Marie Dunmore, Certara Pathological findings – Dr Cheryl Scudamore, RSA Q&A session – All speakers Webinar 5 DART & Endocrine Disruptors Introduction to developmental and reproductive toxicology studies – Dr Hollie Blunt, Sequani Overview of endocrine disruption – Dr Jason Manton (Toxiqua) Use (and potential future use) of NAMs in repeated dose toxicity and DART – Dr Matthew Dent (Unilever) Q&A session – All speakers Webinar 6 ADME / TOXICOKINETICS Overview of ADME / toxicokinetics – Alex Gledhill, ERM Overview of in vitro methods of metabolism & absorption – Katherine Knowles, Syngenta Introduction to PBPK modelling – Dr Ciarán Fisher, GSK Q&A session – All speakers Workshop REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY: CASE STUDIES Delegates will be provided with a number of regulatory toxicology case studies prior to the Workshop. Case studies will be discussed by delegates in small groups in the Workshop, with guidance from experienced regulatory toxicologists, and in a plenary session. |
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| Core Module 2 | PBPK Modelling |
| Webinars: March/April 2025
· Introduction to PBPK modelling · Hands-on training session · Population variability, transporters, in vitro biokinetics · Hands-on training session · Agrochemical, pharmaceutical and consumer products industry case studies · Regulatory perspectives; open-source and commercial tools The BTS Skills Gap Initiative Advisory Board and Steering Committee thank Certara for supporting this module. |
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| Core Module 3 | Genotoxicity |
| Webinars including interactive elements (w/c 14th July 2025)
· Introduction to genotoxicity; modes of action, in vitro methods and new developments · In vivo methods and the 3Rs · Quantitative and qualitative assessment of genotoxicity data · New Approach Methodologies in genotoxicity, including in silico and organ on a chip models · The regulatory perspective (1); case studies covering CLP classification, agrochemicals and REACH · The regulatory perspective (2); case studies pharmaceuticals and cosmetics Webinar 1 – Introduction to the module and in vitro testing models – Monday 14th July 2025 – 10.00-12.00 -The modes of action of genotoxic agents, and how they can contribute to cancer and inversely be used as chemotherapeutics -Current overarching themes in the genotoxicity field (e.g., high throughput, multiple endpoint testing) -In vitro assays with OECD guidelines and new developments in this area -Introduction to the 3Rs in toxicology research and testing Kate Chapman (Swansea University) Webinar 2 – In vivo testing models and genetic toxicity data analysis – Monday 14th July 2025 – 13.00-15.00 -In vivo assays with OECD guidelines and potential future techniques -Quantitative and qualitative assessment of genotoxic data -Hazard and risk assessment -Mode of action, weight of evidence approaches Paul Fowler (FSTox Consulting) Webinar 3 – Advances in genetic toxicity risk assessment methods – Tuesday 15th July 2025 – 13.00-15.00 Application of Toxtracker for harm reduction in the tobacco industry – Fiona Chapman (Imperial Brands) Webinar 4 – Regulatory perspectives: Case studies 1 – Wednesday 16th 2025 – 13.00-15.00 Regulatory policy within genetic toxicology – TBC Webinar 5 – Regulatory perspectives: Case studies 2 – Thursday 17th 2025 – 10.00-12.00 In silico qSAR assessment with a focus on nitrosamines – Ben Thornton (Lhasa Ltd) |
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| Core Module 4 | (Q)SAR |
| Webinars
Webinar 1: What are (Q)SAR Models and How Do They Work? Wednesday 10th September 2025, 10:00-12:00 BST This webinar will provide a high-level introduction to the concepts and approaches used to build (Q)SAR models. The theory behind how (Q)SAR models work and how they might be applied in relation to safety assessment will be described by experts in the field. Speakers:
Webinar 2: Key Considerations When Building and Applying Useful (Q)SAR Models Friday 3rd October 2025, :00-16:00 BST In this webinar, key factors which should be considered when building and interpreting results from a (Q)SAR model to ensure the predictions obtained are fit for purpose will be explored. The discussion will be based around the concepts outlined in the (Q)SAR Assessment Framework, developed by the OECD and will be led by an architect of this important guidance. Experts in the field will then describe how the concepts described can be practically considered when building and applying (Q)SAR models. Speakers:
Webinar 3: Applying (Q)SAR Models In Decision-Making Workflows Wednesday 15th October 2025, 14:00-16:00 BST In this webinar, examples of where (Q)SAR model predictions can already be used to help reach key safety decisions will be discussed. An overview of the different types of decision and industries to which they may be applied will be provided, followed by examples of real-life application from industry experts and the perspective of a key regulator in this area. Speakers:
Webinar 4: What Next For (Q)SAR Modelling? Friday 31st October 2025, 10:00-12:00 BST The final webinar in the module will focus on the future for (Q)SAR models in safety assessment decision making. Discussion of the key role that access and use of ever-expanding data resources will play, how the development of new technology in this area will improve the models we can produce and how outputs from (Q)SAR models will be more tightly integrated into broader decision-making WoE workflows of the future will be led by experts in the field. Speakers:
In person Workshop Wednesday 19th November 2025, 9:00-17:00 BST (Venue TBC) At this event, participants will have the chance to recap topics covered during the webinar series as well as getting hands-on experience both in building their own (Q)SAR model and in applying and interpreting pre-built model outputs in a decision-making scenario. The participants will be led through these processes by experts and supported in their understanding all the way through the day. |
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| Core Module 5 | Developmental & Reproductive Toxicology |
| Webinars: November / December 2025
· Introduction to DART and its regulatory assessment · DART testing for pharmaceuticals · DART testing for chemicals · Practicalities of DART assessment · Regulatory requirements for chemicals and pharmaceuticals · The current and future application of NAMs in DART assessment · Paediatrics |
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| Supplementary Module 1 | Ecotoxicology & Environmental Safety Assessment |
| Webinar 1 – Introduction: general principles and regulatory context Tuesday 22 April, 9.30 – 11.30 amOverview of ecotoxicology studies – Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci, King’s College LondonAquatic and sediment organisms (including bioaccumulation) – Rachel Benstead, Fera Science Ltd.Avian and wild mammals – Nicola Dennis, TSGWebinar 2 Overview of ecotoxicology studies Tuesday 29 April, 9.30 – 11.30 am Non-target arthropods and soil organisms – Rebecca Strong, HSE Chemicals Regulation Division Pollinators – Liz Collison, Corteva Agriscience Non-target organisms for endocrine disruptor testing and assessment – Emma Danby, Scymaris Webinar 3 Use of NAMs in regulatory ecotoxicology Overview of current in vitro, invertebrate and eleutheroembryo methods – Natalie Burden, NC3Rs Computational approaches including QSARs and cross species extrapolation – Mark Cronin, Liverpool John Moores University Brief introduction to Next Generation Risk Assessment – Claudia Rivetti, Unilever Webinar 4 Overview of environmental fate and behaviour Hydrolysis, photolysis Fate assessment/modelling (including derivation of PECs/EECs) – George Mahoney, Syngenta Webinar 5 Environmental risk assessment Pesticides – Melissa Reed, HSE Chemicals Regulation Division UK REACH – John Crosse, Environment Agency Pharmaceuticals – Richard Murray-Smith, Regulatory Science Associates In-person workshop, London Claudia Rivetti & Emilia Gattas, Unilever |
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| Supplementary Module 2 | Regulatory Risk Assessment |
Webinar 1 Pharmaceuticals and Veterinary Medicines Pharmaceuticals: Dr Chris Powell, Cambridge BioPharma Webinar 2 Agrochemicals Webinar 3 Cosmetics Webinar 4 Chemicals ((UK) REACH) Webinar 5 Food, Medical devices – Date TBC – September 2025 Webinar 6 Current and future use of NAMs in regulatory hazard and risk assessment – Date TBC – September 2025 |
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