Baylor scientists aim to design safer chemicals for humans and environment

Dr. Bryan W. Brooks, professor of environmental science and biomedical studies in Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences and director of the environmental science graduate program and the environmental health science program, will lead the research core on a four-year, $4.4 million project aimed at designing chemicals and materials that are less toxic to humans and the environment.

The research will develop tools that help molecule designers predict toxic properties of new and existing chemicals and modify their designs to reduce risks while maintaining th

Dr. Bryan W. Brooks, professor of environmental science and biomedical studies in Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences and director of the environmental science graduate program and the environmental health science program, will lead the research core on a four-year, $4.4 million project aimed at designing chemicals and materials that are less toxic to humans and the environment.

The research will develop tools that help molecule designers predict toxic properties of new and existing chemicals and modify their designs to reduce risks while maintaining their effectiveness.

“One goal is to leverage lessons learned from designing safer pharmaceuticals to identify attributes of industrial chemicals that could be designed to also be safer for public health and the environment,” Brooks said.

“One of the reasons we are excited about this project is that in the history of environmental science and environmental health we have largely responded to challenges. For example, we typically react to understand whether contaminants found in the environment will adversely affect human health and ecosystems,” he said. “This project represents a conceptually different approach because we aim to be more proactive by identifying inherent properties of chemicals that result in health hazards. An understanding of these properties promises to support next-generation synthesis of organic chemicals that are less toxic.”

The toxicology research portion will be conducted mostly at Baylor and the University of Washington. The project has national and international implications and has the promise to result in more sustainable practice for the creation of new chemicals, Brooks said.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Baylor students and faculty to collaborate within a truly interdisciplinary network of colleagues with complementary expertise in an area that has the potential to advance important goals of sustainability,” Brooks said.

“One goal is to leverage lessons learned from designing safer pharmaceuticals to identify attributes of industrial chemicals that could be designed to also be safer for public health and the environment,” Brooks said.

“One of the reasons we are excited about this project is that in the history of environmental science and environmental health we have largely responded to challenges. For example, we typically react to understand whether contaminants found in the environment will adversely affect human health and ecosystems,” he said. “This project represents a conceptually different approach because we aim to be more proactive by identifying inherent properties of chemicals that result in health hazards. An understanding of these properties promises to support next-generation synthesis of organic chemicals that are less toxic.”

The toxicology research portion will be conducted mostly at Baylor and the University of Washington. The project has national and international implications and has the promise to result in more sustainable practice for the creation of new chemicals, Brooks said.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Baylor students and faculty to collaborate within a truly interdisciplinary network of colleagues with complementary expertise in an area that has the potential to advance important goals of sustainability,” Brooks said.