The emergence of toxico-epigenetics: scientific challenges and regulatory controversies (PACTE - UCLA)

This interdisciplinary project aims at mapping the emergence of toxico-epigenetics, and at analyzing the scientific, regulatory and economic challenges, opportunities and controversies surrounding it. It is funded by the Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne Region.

The project gathers researchers at UCLA (Allard) and PACTE (Louvel, Granjou) so as to strengthen international collaboration as well as to gather complementary expertise.

Sociologists (PACTE) and toxicologists (UCLA) will work together on three objectives:
1- mapping the emergence of the field in the scientific literature;
2- analyzing the challenges, opportunities and controversies surrounding its research through interviews with key scientists in France and in California;
3- analyzing the debates related to its integration into the regulatory process in Europe and in the US through interviews with representatives from regulatory agencies and firms.

Key-Words : Scientific controversies, toxicology, environmental epigenetics